‘People’s Will’: Mayawati Justifies Construction of Statues in SC

“Memorials are intended to promote values & ideals of social reformers & not to promote symbol of BSP,” she said.

BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday, 2 April, sought the dismissal of a plea that alleged public funds were misused in the construction of memorials, saying it was "politically motivated".

The BSP chief justified in the Supreme Court the construction of statues of herself and other leaders in Uttar Pradesh, saying:

“Memorials are intended to promote values and ideals of social reformers and not to promote symbol of BSP. Funds for construction of memorials were sanctioned through budgetary allocations and approval of state legislature.”

Mayawati to SC, as quoted by PTI

In her affidavit, she stated, "It was the will of the people."

‘Present UP Govt Has Also Initiated Construction of Ram Statue’

Saying that the construction of memorials and installation of statues was not a “new phenomenon” in India, Mayawati drew the attention of the apex court to the 221-metre high Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya, pointing out that the present BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh government has initiated its construction at the cost of the state exchequer.

Even the Congress party in the past has installed statues of its leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao across the country, she pointed out.

She also referred to the instance of installation of the statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, known as the ‘Statue of Unity', by the state government in Gujarat.

She had filed the affidavit in compliance with the last order of the Supreme Court, wherein it had observed that the former UP CM may have to deposit public money used for erecting statues of herself and elephants, the BSP symbol.

But Mayawati pointed out that the SC bench made it clear that it was a tentative view, and the matter would take some time for hearing.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)