Mayawati warns Akhilesh Yadav on converting parks and memorials in Uttar Pradesh

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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati warned SP government in Uttar Pradesh as she asked the ruling party to respect Dalit icons and their parks otherwise they would put the country in trouble.

According to TV reports Mayawati said: "Any attempt to construct anything on parks and memorials could lead to law and order problems not only in the state but also in the country."

"This may also create problems for the new government," she said warning her opponent.

Further, Mayawati said the UP goverment must take lessons from her regime earlier. "We never tried to deface or disturb memorials, museums and parks named after their icons. In fact we respected their sentiments and I hope the new government would reciprocate the same," she said.

This was the first occasion after UP polls that Mayawati met her supporters at a public meeting. Mayawati also said that the SP government should take lessons from her government.

Mayawati referred to certain newspaper reports stating that SP government would open a medical college or a hospital in certain parks.

Meanwhile, addressing reporters in Delhi, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the people of UP have punished Mayawati and her party for wasting funds on park and memorials.

Moreover, Akhilesh said it was not wrong to use precious land for public welfare. "I have assured that my government will not touch parks and memorials. But more than 3,000 acres of precious land can definitely be used for hospitals for children and women," he said.

In a retort, Akhilesh said as the Opposition leader Mayawati's words would have more meaning if they were spoken in the legislative Assembly.