I-T to probe Maya's multicrore garland source

New Delhi: The Income Tax (I-T) department will probe into Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's multicrore garland source.

The BSP supreme was presented the garland reportedly made from Rs 1000 notes at a BSP rally held to commemorate the party's 25th anniversary in Lucknow on Monday.

The I-T dept will investigate where the money for garland came from.

The IT sleuths swung into action after Congress MPs went on the offensive in Parliament on Tuesday criticising Mayawati for her brazen and open display of power and wealth.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said, " Finance Ministry must look into it. "

Controversies related to wealth are nothing new to Mayawati. From being accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income to allegedly forcing her party men to contribute on her birthdays.

The difference this time though was that this was done in front of one of the biggest political rallies organised ever.

The big question:

Will the IT probe really be decisive or will it just end up just as a political fight between the Congress and BSP?

Will there also be a probe in judging whether official state machinery was used to organise this rally?

Will action be taken against the Lucknow unit of the BSP which has already admitted to presenting the garland to Mayawati?

Meanwhile, Mayawati's close aide and the PWD, Excise and Irrigation Minister, Naseemuddin Siddiqui said, "People are willing to give their life for Mayawati and you all are questioning the funds for garland. Whats your problem?"

The multi-crore garland was just a small part of the extravagant Rs 200 crore celebrations that marked the BSP's 25th anniversary, and its founder Kanshi Ram's birthday, with a massive rally in Lucknow.

The official theme of Monday's rally was the welfare of the poor and downtrodden, but will now be remembered more for Mayawati's moment with the thousand rupee notes garland.

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