In a move that is bound to widen the rift between the Mayawati government and the Centre, the UP chief minister has withdrawn all protocol privileges normally accorded to Union ministers visiting the state.
On Monday, minister of state for rural development Pradeep Jain had to take a rickshaw when he arrived here to attend a two-day coordination committee meeting of the UP Congress.
A day earlier, another minister of state, Jitin Prasada, got similar treatment on reaching Lucknow.
A state official said the protocol rules were changed last week. “If any Central minister comes on an official visit and gives adequate information, he will be given privileges.”