Click to play videoLucknow: In UP, the Mayawati government is stirring yet another controversy. She is now being accused of misusing the state administration to hold a multi-crore rally to celebrate 25 years of formation of the Bahujan Samaj Party.
If everything goes as per the plan, Lucknow is likely to turn all blue this Monday. The entire city is gearing up for a massive show of strength by the ruling BSP to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its founding.
Ironically though, the massive spending by Chief Minister Mayawati comes less than a fortnight after she had claimed that the state was suffering from 'acute financial crisis' and hence was too cash strapped to compensate the victims of the recent Pratapgarh stampede in which more than 60 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives.
This time tough the government certainly doesn't seem to be penny pinching as crores of rupees have reportedly been spent over the rally. What's more shocking is that the state officials have been tasked to make the stay of party workers a comfortable one. Even policemen haven’t been spared from rally duty.
An estimated 25 lakh BSP supporters are expected to attend the rally and the government has made elaborate arrangements for them from air-conditioned guest houses to feasting halls. Even medical teams have been put on standby.
Chief Minister Mayawati is expected to arrive at the rally venue in a helicopter.
Meanwhile, the Opposition in the state is up in arms.
"I am sure it is the public money collected from the poor public," says UP Congress chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi.
Congress General Secretary, Digvijay Singh has also criticised the spending.
"Government is wasting crores of public money for the rally, but Maya Govt neither has time nor has money for the victims of stampede"
In 2002 16 people were killed in a stampede during a similar show of strength by the BSP and Mayawati had vowed not to repeat such an extravagant demonstration. But that promise seems long forgotten.
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