Opposition protests outside Parliament over price rise

New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): The leaders of the Communist Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) staged a demonstration outside Parliament on Tuesday in protest against the price rise.

Wielding placards and shouting slogans, they criticised the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for its failure to keep a check on the rising prices of essential commodities.

“I don”t understand why the government wants to destroy the country. They are forcing people to eat imported crops. Slowly, the situation will force people to take to violence to get their share of food. The situation will force encourage people to plunder,” said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

“Farmers are badly hit. Prices of fertilizers, diesel have increased, Inflation has reached 8 percent. Are they challenging this protest?” he added.

“Entire Bihar state is closed and we have decided to protest in front the statue of Mahatma Gandhi (father of the nation and country”s freedom icon),” said RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for pursuing policies leading to price rise, adding that price rise is a big worry.

“Our principle concern has been the spurt in prices,” said Mayawati.

“The government must control fuel prices. The government”s economic policy is a reason for price rise,” she added.

“Congress led UPA Government needs to re-asses its policies,” Mayawati claimed.

A 12-hour all India shutdown has been called by the Left-led 13 party front demanding immediate control on spiralling prices, roll back in customs duty on crude oil and excise tax on petroleum products.

The parties leading the shutdown are Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Samajwadi Party (SP), Biju Janata Dal, Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (RSP) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

The shutdown is affecting the normal life in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Orissa.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not a part of this shutdown. (ANI)

Mayawati blames central policies for price rise

Lucknow, Apr 27 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday slammed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for pursuing policies leading to price rise, adding that price rise is a big worry.

“Our principle concern has been the spurt in prices,” said Mayawati.

“The government must control fuel prices. The government”s economic policy is a reason for price rise,” she added.

“Congress led UPA Government needs to re-asses its policies,” Mayawati claimed.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further said the Centre did not provide assistance to the State Government during the price rise.

Mayawati, however, said that she would oppose the cut motion to be introduced in the Parliament by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition and will support the Central Government on the same.

“Bahujan Samaj Party will support the UPA Government on the cut motion issue,” said Mayawati.

The BJP-led Opposition is all charged up to introduce a cut motion over rising prices in Parliament today, as on Monday it issued a whip to all its MPs to ensure all its leaders support the cut motions tomorrow.

Cut motions are usually issued by members of the opposition in the legislature to criticize the policy behind the financial estimates of the government.

Cut motions can be of three types: disapproval of policy cut, economic cut and token cut. (ANI)

Mayawati expels Mukhtar Ansari from BSP

Lucknow, April 17 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has expelled criminal-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and his brother Afzal Ansari from the party.

A press release issued on Friday by the party said that the decision to expel them was being taken as the two were involved in anti-party and criminal activities.

Both Afzal and Mukhtar are currently in jail in connection with the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Krishnanand Rai.

According to the release, Mukhtar had failed to live up to the expectations of the BSP where he was given entry on the promise that he would mend his ways.

Recently, during a raid in Ghazipur jail, authorities recovered mobile phones and other objectionable material from Mukhtar”s possession.

He was also found to be regularly meeting people and running his criminal empire from the jail premises. (ANI)

Pranab Mukherjee calls for all-party meeting over Women”s Reservation Bill

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has called for an all-party meeting over the Women”s Reservation Bill on April 5 before it is tabled in the upcoming session of the Parliament.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has called for countrywide protests against the Bill next month, saying that the legislation was against Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar”s ideology of empowering women from all sections of society.

Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has planned to hold the protests at the tehsil level and has asked its leaders to educate people about the ”flaws” in the Bill.

Mayawati has said the BSP is not against the reservation, but wants a sub-quota for the women from the weaker sections of society.

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said that the government would seek to get the Women”s Reservation Bill passed in the Lok Sabha during the second half of the current session of Parliament, which re-convenes on April 15.

Moily, however, denied that there would be changes in the Bill.

The Bill has been strongly opposed by the Yadav trio- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) supreme Sharad Yadav, who have been demanding a quota within quota for women from backward communities and minorities.

Both Lalu Yadav and Sharad Yadav have threatened to withdraw support from the government if the Bill is passed in its present form.

Mulayam Singh Yadav had earlier made sexist remarks over the Bill saying “men would whistle at women parliamentarians coming through quota”, asserting that he purposefully made these remarks so as to stir up a debate over the Women”s Reservation Bill, which he claimed would only benefit women related to industrialists and bureaucrats.

The controversial yet historic Women”s Reservation Bill seeks to provide 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and in state legislative bodies. (ANI)

BSP leader charges Sonia Gandhi of wearing cash garland

Lucknow, Mar 26 (ANI): Despite facing severe criticism from all quarters for the currency note garlands that were presented to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati during the Bahujan Samaj Party”s (BSP) silver jubilee celebrations, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, a senior leader of the party, has charged Congress President Sonia Gandhi of receiving a similar garland.

Addressing a rally in Lucknow, Siddiqui displayed a photograph of Sonia Gandhi being presented a garland of thousand rupee notes. He said Congress party workers had taken the matter of Mayawati”s garland to Parliament, but forgot about their own wrong deeds.

“Even Sonia Gandhi was wearing the garland made of thousand rupee notes on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti, which was gifted by Valmikis (people of lower social strata),” said Siddiqui.

“I want to ask the Valmikis how they managed such a huge amount of money. Till today, Sonia Gandhi has not able to notice or comment on that,” he added.
The income-tax department is investigating the source from where the money came for Mayawati”s currency garland.

The Samajwadi Party and the Congress have both demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in the matter.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh has accused Mayawati of misusing public money, and said, that she is not the daughter of a Dalit, but a daughter of wealth.

Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev has also criticized Mayawati for doing business through politics.

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 on March 15. (ANI)

Mayawati garland had only Rs.21 lakh: BSP minister

Lucknow, March 16 (IANS) After initial denials about Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati having been felicitated with a giant sized garland made of Rs.1,000 denomination currency notes at the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rally here Monday, party leaders Tuesday said it contained only Rs.21 lakh, not Rs.5 crore.

Taking cognizance of the gift, the Income Tax department is said to have issued a notice to Mayawati.

‘The garland had currency notes worth only Rs.21 lakh, that were contributed by a large number of party leaders and workers,’ Mayawati’s close confidante and cabinet Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui declared here Tuesday.

‘The money for the garland was collected by party functionaries in Lucknow and we arranged to have a special garland made for our leader here itself,’ he told mediapersons, after the party’s earlier denials were rebutted with huge pictures on TV as well as in print, clearly showing the currency notes.

Siddiqui refuted media reports about the garland having been gifted by BSP functionaries in Karnataka, where it was earlier stated to have been crafted.

When a journalist sought to draw his attention to a Karnataka BSP leader having gone on record Monday claiming that the garland was brought by him, Siddiqui said: ‘What I am telling you is the truth. I do not know of what and who made this claim from Karnataka.’

Accusing the opposition of spreading all kinds of canard against the BSP, he said: ‘Well, the opposition has got the jitters after seeing the mammoth turnout at our rally, so they are bound to make wild allegations against us.’

Asked what the party would do in the wake of the Income Tax probe ordered into the garland affair, Siddiqui said the party was ‘not scared of any inquiry as we have not done anything wrong’.

Flatly denying the opposition charge that the rally was a ‘government sponsored affair’ and that it entailed an expenditure of Rs.200 crore, he said that by no stretch of imagination, could it be such a whopping figure.

‘Let me tell you, most of the work was undertaken by volunteers who worked without taking a penny in return to make the rally a grand success, which was what the opposition cannot digest,’ he added.

Mayawati declines to meet with US ambassador

Lucknow, March 16 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has declined to meet US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer, who arrived here Tuesday on a two-day visit to the state, citing her ‘busy political schedule’.

‘The chief minister had a very busy political schedule as number of party leaders from different parts of the country were here at this time and meetings were fixed with different groups long before word came from the US embassy,’ a senior official in the chief minister’s personal secretariat said.

‘By the time we received a request from the US embassy, it was too late for the chief minister to alter her programmes and fit a meeting with the ambassador in her schedule,’ the official added.

A formal letter has also been sent by the chief minister’s secretariat to the US embassy.

Roemer called on Governor B.L.Joshi, after which he went on a visit to a USAID project in a neighbouring village.

According to a US embassy official, Roemer earlier visited Bihar and Karnataka, where their chief ministers Nitish Kumar and B.S. Yeddyurappa not only met him, but also spent some time with him.

BSP targeted in parliament for money garland, Bareilly violence

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The BSP came under attack in both houses of parliament Tuesday with the SP, Congress and the BJP condemning the multi-crore money garland given to its chief Mayawati and the Uttar Pradesh government’s failure to bring about normalcy in violence-hit Bareilly.

The Lok Sabha saw two adjournments as parties questioned the extravagance of the Bahujan Samaj Party’s 25th anniversary celebrations in Lucknow Tuesday when Chief Minister Mayawati was given a garland made of thousands of Rs.1,000 notes.

Critics alleged that the garland was just a small part of the Rs.200 crore celebrations that also marked party founder Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary.

The continuous uproar over the issue forced the chair to adjourn the house for the day to meet on April 12, after a nearly four-week recess.

Outside parliament, the MPs demanded a probe into the extravaganza.

‘An investigation should be initiated to reveal the source of the money,’ Congress MP Jagadambika Pal told reporters after the second adjournment of the house.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath added: ‘She is the chief minister of the state. So, the people have the right to know about the source of the money.’

The house was first adjourned during zero hour after Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Jagadambika Pal tried to raise the issue. Speaker Meira Kumar, however, invited other MPs who had given notice earlier to speak on other topics.

MPs from the SP and Congress belonging to Uttar Pradesh were up on their feet while BSP members protested noisily. Amid the uproar, the speaker adjourned the house for 40 minutes at 12.20 p.m.

The unrest continued when the house reassembled at 1 p.m and it was adjourned till 2 p.m.

The BSP was put on the mat in the Rajya Sabha too.

The SP, BJP and the Congress accused the Mayawati government of failing to bring the situation in Bareilly under control and sought the intervention of the central government. Parts of Bareilly have been under curfew since March 2 when clashes broke out over the Barawafat procession.

‘The city is burning but the officials are busy elsewhere,’ said SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, referring to the Lucknow rally.

‘The administration is sleeping. People do not have milk, medicines,’ he said, raising the issue during zero hour.

Congress member Rashid Alvi added that he had been arrested in Ghaziabad Tuesday and prevented from going to Bareilly.

‘It is against the constitution. I was in Ghaziabad but the orders were given by district magistrate of Bareilly. How does the Uttar Pradesh government want to function?’

Alvi said he had never seen leaders being garlanded with notes except during elections.

‘She was garlanded with Rs.1,000 notes. What more can be more shameful,’ he said, pointing out that no state minister had visited Bareilly.

BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia said the Sikh community in Bareilly had suffered losses in the communal strife as many shops owned by them had been burnt.

BSP member Brajesh Pathak responded by saying that law and order was a state subject and demanded that remarks of the members on Bareilly situation be expunged.

However, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan did not agree to his request and said the matter had been raised with the permission of the chair.

Rs.5 crore garland for Mayawati?

Lucknow, March 15 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was Monday presented a giant garland of currency notes by her fans from Karnataka. Though the exact value of the garland is not known, onlookers put it in the region of a whopping Rs.5 crore!

In fact, no one noticed the Rs.1,000 currency notes with which the giant garland was created until these were identified by a local photographer when he zoomed in.

Earlier, while Mayawati was being garlanded, mediapersons could make out from a distance that it was not a run-of-the-mill garland. But beholders perceived it as one made of some exquisite imported flowers.

However, the mystery was unravelled no sooner than the still pictures were promptly lifted and beamed by TV channels.

Those present on the dais, however, feigned ignorance about the unique garland in which some 50,000 currency notes of Rs.1,000 each were believed to have been used.

The garland was specially crafted and brought by Mayawati’s party functionaries all the way from Bangalore for Monday’s mega rally organised by her to mark the Bahujan Samaj Party’s silver jubilee celebrations, which coincided with the 76th birth anniversary of party founder and her political mentor Kanshi Ram.

Lok Sabha adjourned over Mayawati”s lavish rally

New Delhi, Mar 16 (ANI): Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned till 1 p.m. on Tuesday after the Congress and the Samajwadi Party called for an inquiry over Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati”s lavish celebrations on Monday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The giant garland, used to honour Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati by her supporters during the party”s silver jubilee celebrations on Monday led to a new controversy, as it was alleged to have been made of Rs.1, 000 Indian currency notes.

The controversy gained momentum Congress leaders began to question the source from where the money had come.

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party have both demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry against Mayawati for misusing what they called public wealth. (ANI)

Attempts to freeze BSP symbol a conspiracy of opposition parties, says Mayawati

Lucknow, March 15 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati on Monday said that the attempts to freeze her party’s election symbol through various objections were a conspiracy backed by the opposition parties.

Ms. Mayawati also rejected the description that the elephant statues erected in parks and memorials to Dalit icons were related to her party”s election symbol, as she said that the statues the elephants have been shown welcoming with their snouts up, whereas the elephant in the BSP”s election symbol has been shown with its snout down.

The BSP is to submit its reply on a petition filed against the elephant statues with the poll panel on March 18.

Addressing her party’s massive rally on the occasion of 25 years BSP”s existence and the birth anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram, at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan here on Monday, Ms. Mayawati said the Election Commission should take a view of the Congress and SP”s symbols.

Cycles were being distributed to the beneficiaries of the Savitribai Phule Scheme for girls launched by the BSP Government and the hand was used by leaders of all political parties to welcome people, Ms. Mayawati said.

During her 90 minute long address Ms. Mayawati trained her guns on the Congress and dubbed it as anti-Dalit, which supported the caste system.

Justifying the erection of her own statues along with other BSP leaders, Ms. Mayawati said: “Is there any law in the country which bans building statues of living leaders and whether funds can be spent only on erecting statues of dead leaders and not the living ones?”.

She pointed out that the statues of form prime ministers and congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have been erected throughout the country by the Congress and several schemes, colleges, universities, airports, railway stations and roads using government funds have been named after them.

In last 63 years since Independence crores have been spent on building memorials and museums of Gandhi-Nehru family. But, when statues and memorials to Mr. Kanshi Ram and other icons are built, the BSP Government has been charged by the opposition with misusing government money, Ms. Mayawati reminded the public in the rally.

However, a giant garland, which was put around Ms. Mayawati by BSP supporters, attracted attention of all, as it was alleged that it was made of Rs. 1,000 Indian currency notes. (ANI)

Attempts to freeze BSP symbol a conspiracy of opposition parties, says Mayawati

Lucknow, March 15 (ANI): Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati on Monday said that the attempts to freeze her party’s election symbol through various objections were a conspiracy backed by the opposition parties.

Ms. Mayawati also rejected the description that the elephant statues erected in parks and memorials to Dalit icons were related to her party”s election symbol, as she said that the statues the elephants have been shown welcoming with their snouts up, whereas the elephant in the BSP”s election symbol has been shown with its snout down.

The BSP is to submit its reply on a petition filed against the elephant statues with the poll panel on March 18.

Addressing her party’s massive rally on the occasion of 25 years BSP”s existence and the birth anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram, at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan here on Monday, Ms. Mayawati said the Election Commission should take a view of the Congress and SP”s symbols.

Cycles were being distributed to the beneficiaries of the Savitribai Phule Scheme for girls launched by the BSP Government and the hand was used by leaders of all political parties to welcome people, Ms. Mayawati said.

During her 90 minute long address Ms. Mayawati trained her guns on the Congress and dubbed it as anti-Dalit, which supported the caste system.

Justifying the erection of her own statues along with other BSP leaders, Ms. Mayawati said: “Is there any law in the country which bans building statues of living leaders and whether funds can be spent only on erecting statues of dead leaders and not the living ones?”.

She pointed out that the statues of form prime ministers and congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have been erected throughout the country by the Congress and several schemes, colleges, universities, airports, railway stations and roads using government funds have been named after them.

In last 63 years since Independence crores have been spent on building memorials and museums of Gandhi-Nehru family. But, when statues and memorials to Mr. Kanshi Ram and other icons are built, the BSP Government has been charged by the opposition with misusing government money, Ms. Mayawati reminded the public in the rally.

However, a giant garland, which was put around Ms. Mayawati by BSP supporters, attracted attention of all, as it was alleged that it was made of Rs. 1,000 Indian currency notes. (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi visits families of deceased in Pratapgarh stampede

Pratapgarh (UP), Mar 6 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi visited families of the deceased in the stampede that took place at an ashram at Mangarh in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

He also assured them of quick disbursement of the ex gratia of Rs two lakhs announced by the central government.

Gandhi also visited Mawaikala village and met the families of four children who lost their life in the incident.

Sixty-three people, all women and children, were killed and 64 were injured in a stampede at an ashram at Mangarh in Pratapgarh on Thursday.

The tragic incident took place when a portion of the entrance gate collapsed under pressure of the surging crowd that thronged the ashram belonging to Kripalu Maharaj to collect food and utensils.

The function at the ashram, located 80 km from the district headquarters of Pratapgarh and about 200 km from Lucknow, was held to commemorate the death anniversary of Kripalu Maharaj”s wife.

A portion of the entrance gate was opened, but the structure collapsed under the pressure mounted by the crowd.

The dead were either crushed under the debris of the gate or killed in the ensuing stampede.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. (ANI)

Centre allots Rs two lakh for family of deceased in Pratapgarh stampede

New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Friday said the Centre would grant Rs two lakh to the family of the deceased in the stampede that took place at an ashram at Mangarh in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Addressing a joint sitting of both houses in Parliament, Dr Singh said, “The Central Government would provide Rs two lakh for family of deceased in Pratapgarh stampede.”

Sixty-three people, all women and children, were killed and another 64 injured in a massive stampede at an ashram at Mangarh in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

The tragic incident took place when a portion of the entrance gate collapsed under pressure of the surging crowd that thronged the ashram belonging to Kripalu Maharaj to collect food and utensils.

The dead included 37 children and 26 women. An official spokesman put the death toll at 61.

The function at the ashram, located 80 km from the district headquarters of Pratapgarh and about 200 km from Lucknow, was held to commemorate the death anniversary of Kripalu Maharaj”s wife.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad would conduct the probe. He has been asked to submit his preliminary report within 24 hours after which the amount of compensation for the victims would be fixed.

A portion of the entrance gate was opened, but the structure collapsed under the pressure mounted by the crowd.

The dead were either crushed under the debris of the gate or killed in the ensuing stampede.

The injured were shifted to hospitals in Pratapgarh and Allahabad, and 39 of them were discharged after first aid. Two were referred to the Swaroop Rani Nehru Medical College Hospital in Allahabad with serious injuries.
A team of doctors rushed to the site and ambulances from Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Allahabad were kept ready to take those injured in the stampede to the hospital. (ANI)

SC extends stay on Kanshi Ram memorial construction

New Delhi, Sep. 18 (ANI): Expressing dissatisfaction over the Mayawati Government’s plea, the Supreme Court on Friday extended the stay order on its earlier ruling for stoppage of work at Kanshi Ram Memorial Sthal in Lucknow.

“The affidavit is not satisfactory. The question here has many, many burning issues,” it observed during a brief hearing in the case,” a Bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and Aftab Alam noted.t said the question was whether one could spend so much of money from the state or public exchequer for the purpose.

“Suppose today the legislature decides that 80 per cent of budgetary allocation should be spent on such works of memorials and statues…is it not justiciable,” the Bench asked.

“Serious questions arise in this petition…the cabinet and the legislature have to act under the Constitution,” the Bench added.

The next hearing in the case is on October 5th, and the parties are asked to file their responses to the affidavit by September 29th.

In a detailed affidavit filed in response to the show cause notice issued on September 11, the state government had claimed it had the highest regard for the apex court and that it believed in carrying out its directions in “letter and spirit.”

On September 8, the apex court had ruled that no further construction activities should take place at the memorials which have cost the exchequer 2,600 crore rupees.

However, media reports said construction activities were going on in full swing despite the court’s directive, following which the bench had issued a show cause notice. (ANI)

Police baton-charge protesting Samajwadi Party workers in Varanasi

Varanasi, Sep. 16 (ANI): Police on Wednesday resorted to a baton charge angry Samajwadi Party workers who were protesting against the Mayawati Government’s policies.

The incident took place when Samajwadi Party activists went to hand over a memorandum to the district magistrate.

Several protestors were injured, while some others were arrested.

Samajwadi Party workers have been protesting against the state government’s misuse of public funds for building memorials, a worsening law and order situation and failure to provide relief to flood victims. (ANI)

Supreme Court tells UP Govt. to remove manpower, machinery from construction sites

New Delhi, Sep 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday firmly told the Mayawati – led Government to vacate all the manpower and machinery from seven construction sites within six hours of its fresh order.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice B.N. Agarwal and Justice Aftab Alam, ordered the Uttar Pradesh Government to stop all construction of all the memorials, parks and statues in the state.

” No further construction would be done at the site until the matter was decided by the court,” the State Government replied in its undertaking.

The court warned the state administration of taking severe action if it failed to follow its orders.

” You are playing a hide and seek game. Your are playing with fire,” the bench said in its order.

The court also said “Nobody except the security guard should nter the construction sites”

The court also issued a show cause notice to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary for failing to obey its order.

On Thursday, a section of the media had reported that the Mayawati Government continues to disobey the Supreme Court’s directive, vis-’-vis construction activity at Ambedkar Park, one of Mayawati”s dream projects in Lucknow.

The apex court has also asked media organizations, to furnish all material in support of their claims.

In its supplementary Budget presented before in the state assembly the Uttar Pradesh Government had allotted a sum of Rs 550 crore for statues and memorials of Kanshi Ram, B.R. Ambedkar, and Mayawati. (ANI)

SC committee: Halt Noida park construction

New Delhi, Sep 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended on Friday to halt the construction of Ambedkar Park in Noida with immediate effect.

The Mayawati Government is constructing the Bhimrao Ambedkar Park in Noida with an estimated cost of Rs.550 crore on the banks of the River Yamuna.

The committee has sighted the violation of environmental laws as the reason for such recommendation.

According to sources, the committee headed by former Union Environment Secretary, P.V. Jayakrishna has conveyed the apex court that the project does not have the required environmental clearance.

The court is expected to give its opinion on the recommendations next week.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday accused the Central Government of obstructing the dream projects of Mayawati.

The project came into the spotlight after a residents’ association of Noida moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the apex court raising environment issues against the construction

The apex court constituted the CEC to look into the issue following which the committee visited the site Aug 12. (ANI)

Samajwadi Party targets opportunistic Congress, but says will support UPA

Agra (Uttar Pradesh) Aug.21 (ANI): Concluding a three-day National Conference here on Friday, a sulking Samajwadi Party leadership accused the Congress of being “opportunistic” and announced a mass agitation programme against UPA government, but ruled out withdrawal of outside support to it for now.

Having lost in four Assembly seats where bypolls were held in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party in a resolution also targeted the Mayawati Government in the state, saying it and the UPA were pursuing “anti-people” and “anti-national” policies.

It said that the Samajwadi Party had supported the Congress-led coalition at the Centre to weaken communal forces.

“But the government after announcing revolutionary steps to end unemployment, educational reforms and foodgrains support in 100 days, had done nothing so far in this regard,” it alleged, while announcing the agitation against the Centre and UP government in January next year.

However, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, asserted that “there is no question of withdrawing support from UPA as of now.

“We will take to the streets against both Congress and BSP. We will launch a ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation between January 19 and 23, 2010 against BSP, during which both me and Kalyan Singh will court arrest,” Yadav told reporters on Friday.

The political and economic resolution cleared by the party’s national executive made no reference to SP withdrawing support from the UPA.

Asked about the results of bypolls to four assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, where two seats were wrested from it, Yadav said, “this is not the people’s verdict. State government officials ensured BSP’s victory. They had arrested our cadre to ensure our defeat.”

The results are being seen as a setback for the party, which is trying to regain its position in the state after the 2007 assembly polls and the recent general elections.

“We want to make people aware why there is a need for an agitation against BSP in Uttar Pradesh. During this period, our party workers will hold meetings with the people at grassroot levels where they will highlight the weaknesses of the BSP government in UP,” Yadav said.

He also cited the ongoing farming season as a reason for the timing of the agitation.

The SP lamented India “kowtowing to foreign powers and sacrificing the country’s economic interests”.

The government, the party resolution alleged, had failed to boost agricultural production, control prices, take action against food adulteration, tackle unemployment and give Indian languages their rightful place in official and court work.

It criticised the US and other developed countries for their “double standards” on the issue of greenhouse emissions.

It also referred to the alleged attempts by China to disturb the flow of Himalayan rivers which could result in environmental disaster for India. (ANI)

Center urges Mayawati to avoid personal vendetta

New Delhi July 16 (ANI): The Congress Party and UPA Government at the center has urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to avoid settling political and personal scores through the through the nation’s courts.

However, it said the issue between UP Congress Committee Chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Mayawati is a matter both had to settle themselves.

The UPCC has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the entire episode, as it has no faith in state investigating agencies.

Reacting to the arrest of Bahugauna, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi described it as disproportionate reaction of the State Government. (ANI)