Rita Bahuguna takes potshots at Mayawati's warning to Samajwadi Govt.

Lucknow, Apr 14 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Saturday hit out Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati over her remarks that the law and order situation may worsen across India if the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) attempts to construct anything on parks and memorials built in honour of Dalit icons.

"This is absolutely wrong. The main work of the opposition is to serve the public and serve the public interest. I think it is wrong," said Joshi, when asked to comment on Mayawati's warning to the Samajwadi Party.

Stating that the new government in Uttar Pradesh should be given the time to work, Joshi said: "The government will take a decision. There is no need to hype each and every subject."

"As far as parks are concerned, the government has to take a decision. The government has already made it clear that it does not want to remove the statues," she added.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress chief also charged Mayawati of preparing the ground for the 2014 polls.

"Mayawatiji is preparing for the 2014 elections. She is always eager to catch her vote bank. She always makes attempts to pull the Dalit community on her side in the name of respect for Dalits (Dalit icons). But these are the same Dalits, who brought her down to 80 seats (in the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.)," she said.

Joshi further alleged that the exploitation that took place with poor, women, Muslims and Dalits during Mayawati's rule is beyond evaluation.

Mayawati earlier today said the law and order situation might worsen not only in Uttar Pradesh, but across the country if the SP Government plans to make new constructions in the parks where the statues of Dalit icons have been erected.

Addressing a gathering in Lucknow on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Mayawati said: "As per reports published in various newspapers, I would like to tell the Samajwadi Party Government that if it plans to make new constructions in the parks where statues of Dalit icons have been erected, then not only in Uttar Pradesh but the law and order situation may worsen in the whole country." (ANI)