Struggle against UPA's economic policies will continue: Mayawati

Support on cut motion and the CBI case are unrelated'

Notwithstanding her support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government on the cut motion on the Finance Bill in Parliament, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday made it clear that there would be no let-up in her party's opposition to the Centre on the price rise issue.

Ms. Mayawati also rubbished speculation here on Tuesday that her move was influenced by the Central Bureau of Investigation agreeing to review the disproportionate assets case against her.

“The Taj Corridor and the disproportionate assets cases were filed against me when the NDA [National Democratic Alliance] government was in power at the Centre. Moreover, after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP decided to give unconditional outside support to the UPA government. The decision to support the UPA government on the cut motion and the CBI case are unrelated,” she said.

The Chief Minister said her decision was influenced by the need to prevent communal forces from returning to power at the Centre. “Logically, the BSP should have voted against the UPA government, but since it would have paved the way for communal forces to return to power it was decided to oppose the cut motion.”

Until Monday, the talk was that the BSP would support the UPA by abstaining from the Lok Sabha. Sources said the BSP chief reworked her strategy and decided on open support following reports that the Samajwadi Party would “disrupt the House proceedings.”

On the issue of price rise, Ms. Mayawati lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of guarding the “interests of the capitalist class and the rich, who have prospered at the cost of the poor and the downtrodden.”

Indicating that the struggle against the UPA government would continue, she stressed the need for the Centre to change its economic policies for the betterment of the people.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BSP and the Congress are engaged in a struggle of political ascendancy in view of the 2012 Assembly elections.

While the ongoing Congress yatras in the State have targeted the Mayawati government, she said the BSP considered the Congress its number one political adversary and that Tuesday's decision had not diluted her stand against the Centre.

HC rejects PIL for CBI probe into Mayawati's cash garland

The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking CBI probe into alleged expenses of about Rs 200 crore, including currency note garland of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, during BSP recent 'maharally' here.

The PIL, filed by three local lawyers on March 18, was dismissed by a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Justice Amitava Lala and Justice Anil Kumar after hearing both the parties.

It was alleged in the PIL that approximately Rs 175 crore of public money was spent in the 'maharally' and another Rs 25 crore on the garland presented to Mayawati.

The BSP supremo came under sharp attack over the garland issue which created a storm inside and outside Parliament. Mayawati was felicitated with a garland made of 1000-rupee notes at a massive rally on the occasion of BSP's foundation day on March 15.

The I-T department is probing the source of money for the garland presented to the chief minister.

No stopping currency garlands, says BSP

Plans rallies in district headquarters to ‘expose Opposition conspiracy’

Unfazed by criticism, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati cocked a snook at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, once again accepting a garland made of currency notes, worth Rs. 18 lakh, at her party meeting here on Wednesday.

In fact, Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party national secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui said, party workers were determined to present currency garlands to Ms. Mayawati at all future programmes also.

On Monday, the BSP supremo was presented with a jumbo garland made of Rs.1000 notes by party workers at the BSP silver jubilee rally in the State capital. The currency value was variously estimated at between Rs. 21 lakh and Rs. 21 crore.

Condemning her acceptance of the gift, the Opposition parties accused her of a “vulgar display of money power.”

Manifestation of anger

At Wednesday's meeting of BSP Ministers, MPs and office-bearers, convened by Ms. Mayawati to take stock of the situation following the rally and to devise a strategy to tackle the Opposition onslaught, Mr. Siddiqui said: “The party has not taken kindly to the Opposition propaganda on the garland presented to the BSP supremo on March 15. The presentation of another garland on Wednesday was a manifestation of the party workers' anger towards the Opposition parties and reiteration of their loyalty to the Chief Minister.”

The currency notes which formed the garland presented on Wednesday were contributed by party workers from 18 divisions in Uttar Pradesh, he said.

State BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya, condemning the Opposition criticism, said the BSP was a national party which filed income tax returns.

Addressing the office-bearers, Ms. Mayawati said parda farsh rallies would be staged in all district headquarters in the State on March 25, to “expose the Opposition conspiracy.” She would attend the rally in a district of her choice.

On April 14, protests would be held in all district headquarters in the country against the Women's Reservation Bill.

Demonstrations would be held against price rise on June 22.