Date:31/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/31/stories/2008013160021200.htm

National

“Mayawati misusing public money”

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Congress general secretary and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Wednesday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of misusing public money. He said people had the right to know why crores of rupees were being spent on building memorials and parks.

Mr. Singh, who is the in charge of the party’s U.P. affairs, dismissed Ms. Mayawati’s allegations that the Congress was plotting to implicate her in false cases. The law was equal for all. The Congress would seek a clarification from the Chief Minister and the State government on the alleged transfer of property to the Chief Minister’s brother.

Addressing the opening session of a two-day meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr. Singh said the party was not unduly worried about Ms. Mayawati withdrawing support to the United Progressive Alliance government. The Congress would not buckle under pressure.

On the Chief Minister’s Dalit agenda, Mr. Singh said it was the Congress that introduced reservation for them. Bhim Rao Ambedkar was made the chairman of the Constitution drafting committee by Jawaharlal Nehru. Mr. Singh alleged that 21 Dalits died of starvation in Srinagar village of Jhansi district in Bundelkhand, but not a single Bahujan Samaj Party functionary visited the village.

Besides, on the Chief Minister’s birthday on January 15, the Ahirwar family in Jhansi district committed suicide, Mr. Singh said.

On Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi spending a night in a Dalit household, Mr. Singh said the Amethi MP had started a new tradition and he wanted the party men to emulate him. Mr. Gandhi faced a bigger challenge than the former Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as he had to revive the party.