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Supreme Court may order Mayawati to pay for statues depicting herself and BSP party symbol

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court today (Friday, Feb 8) said it was of the “tentative view” that Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati should pay back to the public exchequer the money she spent on erecting statues of herself and her party’s symbol ‘elephant’ in public parks across Lucknow and Noida.

This comes on top of a probe by the Enforcement Directorate Mayawati is facing over alleged financial irregularities in the construction of parks and memorials commissioned during her stint as Uttar Pradesh chief minister from 2007-12.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi was hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court advocate Ravi Kant in 2009, alleging that crores of public money was spent by then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on these acts of self-aggrandisement. He contended that public money cannot be utilised for building own statues and for propagating a political party.

“We are of the tentative view that Mayawati has to deposit the public money spent on her statues and party symbol to the State exchequer,” said CJI Gogoi. The Bench, also comprising Justices Deepka Gupta and Sanjeev Khanna, made it clear the tentative view was expressed by it as the matter will take some time for hearing. “We will have it for final disposal on April 2,” the bench said.

Kant has alleged that about Rs 2,000 crore was used from the State budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10 to ‘falsely glorify’ the then CM. The petitioner has said the State government should be directed to remove the statues of Mayawati and her party symbol ‘elephant’ from public land.

“The said activity is being carried out as a State policy, which is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. Sixty statues of elephant were installed at a cost of Rs 52.20 crore at public places by utilising State funds,” the petition had alleged in 2009.

While it is unclear whether the court would ask Mayawati to be personally present in court for the proceedings or indeed order her to cough up the monies her government spent on construction of enormous, self-dedicated, memorials, the view expressed by the top court certainly comes as a major setback for the BSP chief ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Mayawati’s fourth stint as UP chief minister between 2007 and 2012 had been widely criticized for the huge amounts of public money her government spent on building parks and memorials in Lucknow, Noida and other parts of the state which were all decked up with massive statues of Dalit icons, BSP founder Kanshi Ram, Mayawati and elephants.

Several petitions had, at the time, challenged the construction of these parks and the extensive use of elephant statues were touted as violation of election commission rules as many saw them as Mayawati’s move to etch her party’s poll symbol strongly into public memory. However, since the elephant statues were not an exact replica of her poll symbol, Mayawati had got reprieve from various courts and the poll panel on their construction. She had also stoutly defended her bizarre decision of getting her own statues installed at these parks while her opponents sought to mock her by claiming that, in Indian tradition, statues of only the deceased are erected.

The BSP’s rout in the 2012 assembly polls was largely attributed to the electorate’s agony against the huge wastage of public money on these memorials, seen as a self-aggrandizing agenda. While it was speculated at the time that the Samajwadi Party government which came to power after Mayawati’s defeat would demolish her statues, then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had made it clear that he would let the statues stay since a huge amount of public money had already been spent on them.

With Mayawati and Akhilesh now joining hands to take on the common enemy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the two satraps from Uttar Pradesh are facing various probes for alleged irregularities that had occurred during their respective stints as chief minister.

In January, the Enforcement Directorate had raided half a dozen places in Lucknow in a bid to recover documents related to the construction of memorials by the Mayawati regime. The raids had come close on the heels on the CBI launching an inquiry into the alleged role of Akhilesh Yadav in illegal mining in Uttar Pradesh. Predictably, both Mayawati and Akhilesh had said that the raids were the result of political vendetta by the BJP.

The Enforcement Department has filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to investigate the alleged irregularities flagged by the state vigilance department in 2014 over construction of the memorials. The vigilance department complaint, prepared during the tenure of Akhilesh Yadav’s chief ministership, had claimed that Uttar Pradesh suffered losses of around Rs. 111 crore in the construction of Mayawati’s Dalit memorials between 2007 and 2012. As per one UP government estimate, the overall cost of building the memorials across the state was in the vicinity of a staggering Rs. 2,600 crore.

The UP Lokayukta had also indicted two cabinet colleagues of Mayawati – Nasmeedunin Siddiqui and Babu Singh Kushwaha – besides 12 of her party lawmakers for alleged “’wrong-doings”’ in the purchase of sandstone for the memorials.

Also Read: PM Modi responds to ‘Where are jobs?’

With the Supreme Court now indicating that it may ask Mayawati to personally cough up the money her government spent on the memorials, the BSP supremo may well be staring at a major crisis as her party’s financial muscle is known to be on a steady decline since she lost power in 2012. Faced with a political adversary like the BJP which has earned millions in political donations over the past four and half years of its rule at the Centre, Mayawati knows she needs a robust treasury to help her party’s candidates fight the upcoming polls. However, if a large chuck of her party’s wealth has to be deposited with the BJP-led UP government’s coffers, her Lok Sabha battle may be significantly dented.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal, shares inside visual of Delhi CM’s bungalow, AAP reacts

Sachdeva further pegged the cost of the bungalow at a whopping Rs 3.75 crore, equipped with a gym, sauna room and a jacuzzi.

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5 hours ago

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December 10, 2024

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BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal, shares inside visual of Delhi CM’s bungalow, AAP reacts

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly Election, the controversy regarding Delhi Chief Minister’s bungalow, once occupied by Arvind Kejriwal, has intensified ahead of the assembly polls in the national capital. The BJP has been referring to the 6 Flag Staff Road bungalow as sheesh mahal or palace of mirrors, which denotes opulence or luxury.

Taking to X, Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said that they have been telling the truth about the glass palace of debauchery of the person who calls himself a common man (ArvindKejriwal). He added that today they will show it to the people. Sharing a video, the BJP Delhi President said that Kejriwal has built a 7-Star Resort for himself by embezzling public money. 

Sachdeva further pegged the cost of the bungalow at a whopping Rs 3.75 crore, equipped with a gym, sauna room and a jacuzzi. He mentioned that the bungalow had marble granite lighting done at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore while civil work needed another Rs 1.5 crore, adding that the gym and spa fitting alone cost Rs 35 lakh.

He further slammed Arvind Kejriwal for breaking his promise not to use government resources for personal use. The BJP President said that Kejriwal had promised not to take government houses, cars, or security, but now he is looting the hard-earned money of Delhi’s taxpayers.

Furthermore, he also compared the amount spent on the bungalow to the possible number of public goods that could have been bought with that money, including flats for economically weaker sections (EWS), auto-rickshaws, and e-rickshaws. 

Meanwhile, the AAP rejected the allegations as baseless propaganda with Manish Sisodia, former deputy chief minister, accusing the BJP of trying to deflect attention from the pressing issues.

The AAP leader said that instead of answering critical questions about mismanagement of funds for schools, mid-day meals, and hospitals in states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, they focus on Kejriwal’s former official residence. He continued that when people ask about education and health reforms, they talk about a bungalow.

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Delhi Elections: Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs 10 lakh insurance, other guarantees for auto drivers

The AAP government will also provide life insurance worth Rs 10 lakh and accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh.

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6 hours ago

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December 10, 2024

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Delhi Elections: Arvind Kejriwal announces Rs 10 lakh insurance, other guarantees for auto drivers

Former Delhi Chief MInister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal today announced five guarantees for auto drivers in the national capital ahead of assembly elections. 

Reportedly, among the five key guarantees are Rs 1 lakh for marriage of daughters and life insurance worth Rs 10 lakh. Arvind Kejriwal said that on Monday he had a meeting with auto drivers at his home. He added that when the AAP will come to power again, they will implement these five announcements.

The former Chief Minister said that the AAP government will give Rs 1 lakh to all auto drivers for the marriage of their daughters. He also promised to provide Rs 2,500 on Diwali and Holi as allowance to purchase school uniforms. Furthermore, the government will also provide life insurance worth Rs 10 lakh and accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh.

Arvind Kejriwal also assured the auto drivers of providing free coaching to their school children and the relaunch of the PoochO app, which allows people to access the database developed by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Model Transit System of registered auto drivers mobile numbers and call them to book a ride.

The AAP is aiming to retain power in Delhi for the fourth time after its massive electoral successes in 2020 in which it routed the BJP, winning 62 seats in the 70-member Assembly.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has been campaigning hard on the alleged failure of the BJP-led Centre to maintain law and order in Delhi, pointing to rising incidents of extortion and gun violence.

Meanwhile, the BJP has been accusing the AAP of corruption and mismanagement, blaming the party’s alleged misgovernance for Delhi’s pollution woes. Previously, the BJP gave the slogan Ab Nahi Sahenge, Badal Kar Rahenge, meaning won’t tolerate now, will bring the change, asserting to end the AAP rule.

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Several Opposition leaders including RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav support Mamata Banerjee for INDIA bloc leadership

Lalu Prasad Yadav supported Mamata Banerjee, saying that the leadership should be entrusted to her, adding that any objections from the Congress are inconsequential.

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7 hours ago

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December 10, 2024

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Several Opposition leaders including RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav support Mamata Banerjee for INDIA bloc leadership

Many alliance leaders supported West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s willingness to lead the INDIA bloc. 

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Union minister Lalu Prasad Yadav also supported Mamata Banerjee, saying that the leadership should be entrusted to her, adding that any objections from the Congress are inconsequential.

When asked about the Congress’ reservation to accept her as the opposition bloc leader, Lalu Prasad said that the Congress’s opposition will not make any difference and she should be allowed to lead the INDIA bloc.

Previously, Lalu Prasad’s son and senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had said he had no objection to any senior leader of the INDIA bloc, including Banerjee, leading the coalition, but emphasized that the decision must be reached through consensus.

Furthermore, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Mamata Banerjee’s offer to lead the INDIA alliance is important, recognising her past contributions. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said that whatever stand is taken, the INDIA alliance will make the decision collectively. She added that the proposal put forth by Mamata Banerjee that she is ready to lead the bloc is an important suggestion, and that they believe that her contribution in history has been significant.

Earlier on Friday, Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the opposition INDIA bloc and indicated her willingness to lead it if given the opportunity. The West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was capable of handling both the responsibilities of leading the opposition front and continuing her role as the chief minister of West Bengal.

Additionally, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule also expressed that they would be happy if TMC chief Mamata Banerjee takes on a greater role within the opposition alliance. She said that the West Bengal chief minister is an integral part of the INDIA alliance.

Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the INDIA bloc for lacking coherence and being burdened by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

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