Grateful to BJP, says Mayawati; slams 'double-faced' SP

LUCKNOW: While paying tributes to Kanshi Ram , the BSP founder and her predecessor in the party and the organisation, on his 19th death anniversary here, BSP national president Mayawati said she was grateful to the incumbent BJP government in Uttar Pradesh .

In the commemorative programme organised at Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji Smarak Sthal (Eco Garden), a memorial built by the BSP govt, Mayawati said, "I'm grateful to the present state govt because, unlike the Samajwadi Party govt, the BJP govt did not hoard revenue from ticket sales at this memorial, but on our party' s request , spent the amount on its renovation."

Sounding unwavered by the opposition's accusation of her party being BJP's B-team, Mayawati was lavish in her praise for CM Adityanath . She added when she wrote to the CM and requested him to use the ticket revenue of the memorial on its maintenance and upkeep, "government not only looked into the matter but also promised to do as was requested. We told the government that we are not asking for any separate funds".

She told the gathering that when the B SP government got the memorials and parks built to uphold the legacy of Dalit icons, it also made arrangements for tickets so that money from sales could be used in their maintenance. "But it is sad that the SP government that succeeded us did not spend any money on maintaining these structures, but hoarded the money earned through the sale of tickets," said the BSP chief.