JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said, 'There is no point in covering the statues. The statues are concrete proof to the fact that public money has been wasted.'
Political parties on Sunday took exception to the Election Commission’s order to cover statues of chief minister Mayawati and elephant — BSP’s poll symbol — in Uttar Pradesh, saying it will give rise to several complications.
“This decision will give rise to several complications. It is impractical to implement,” CPI national secretary D Raja said.
“It appears irrational and the EC should have thought of all aspects in-depth before taking this action relating to symbols to political parties. You have live elephants, how will you cover them. There are symbols like hand pumps. Are you going to cover all these?” he asked.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said, “There is no point in covering the statues. The statues are concrete proof to the fact that public money has been wasted.”
Their comments came against the backdrop of the EC issuing orders on Saturday to cover statues of Mayawati and BSP’s poll symbol ‘elephant’.
Following the order, labourers in Lucknow city were seen on Sunday morning with material to cover the statues. But they returned claiming that they had not yet received the order to do so.
When asked, district magistrate Anil Kumar, who is also the district election officer, Sagar said his office has not received orders of EC.
“I have not received the orders (of covering statues) from the EC yet. It’s evening now and becoming dark...We will see what can be done in this regard tomorrow (Monday),” Sagar said.
The BSP described the EC order totally unjustified. BSP general secretary SC Misra said on Saturday that the decision was one-sided.
“They just heard the opposition leaders’ complaint and took a decision. They should have given us an opportunity for hearing before taking any decision. This is shocking for us,” he said. “This decision is against the principles of natural justice,” he added.
Misra pointed out that the EC had, in fact, gone against its own earlier decision. He said the EC had itself dismissed a petition against putting up of statues of elephants during BSP rule in UP.
“The elephants in the statues have their trunk in the air in a posture of welcome which is part of Indian tradition. The elephant in our election symbol has its trunk down. The two are totally different. This was our argument and the EC had itself agreed to it and dismissed the petition against the BSP,” Misra asserted.
Last year, Mayawati had inaugurated a 33-acre park named after BR Ambedkar in Noida.
The park, which was built from the government exchequer by spending Rs650 crore, has statues of elephants, Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati herself.
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