Maya challenges I-T probe with another garland worth lakhs.

Lucknow, March 16: In a show of defiance ignoring all criticism, BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday got herself garlanded with currency notes said to be of the value of Rs 18 lakh.

 

The garland comprising notes of various denominations was put around her neck at a meeting of party leaders despite an opposition outcry over her being presented a similar garland of value estimated between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 5 crore at a massive rally in Lucknow on Monday.

"Wherever she goes, she will henceforth be greeted with garland of notes and not with garland of flowers," state PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui told reporters after the meeting.

The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo has came under sharp attack inside and outside Parliament after she got the "multi crore" currency garland comprising notes of Rs 1000.

The IT department has decided to investigate the source of the money for the garland presented to her at the ’Maha’ rally.

The Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party have also demanded a CBI probe.
Siddiqui had yesterday rejected speculation that the value of notes in the garland ran into crores of rupees, saying that the money totalled only Rs 21 lakh.
"We today presented another garland of Rs 18 lakh to the party supremo (Mayawati) collected by party units in all 18 divisions in the state," Siddiqui, who is also the BSP National General Secretary, said.

"In future, where ever her programmes are held, we will welcome her with currency notes, but the final decision rest on the party supremo," he said.

Siddiqui alleged that the opposition parties attempted to foil the party’s Lucknow rally organised on the occasion of party’s silver jubilee and also its founder Kanshiram’s birth anniversary.

"When they (opposition) were left with no other issue, they then unnecessarily raked up the garland issue," he alleged.

"The Opposition’s cheap attempt has resulted in resentment among party workers," he said. Siddiqui said that to give a reply to the opposition parties, party workers from all divisions in the state decided to present another garland to Mayawati.