Samajwadi Party accuses Mayawati of planning another park in Lucknow

Accusing chief minister Mayawati of planning to construct another park in the state capital, the Samajwadi Party today charged that a demolition drive was on in Pipraghat area for the purpose which would render nearly 2000 people homeless.

"Some 250 houses were pulled down by bulldozers in Pipraghat area along the railway line by the authorities and we are told that it was done to make space for another park," senior SP leader and Opposition leader in state legislative council Ahmed Hasan told reporters here.

However, the state government denied the charges saying the exercise was aimed to evict encroachers.

"It is to remove illegal occupants of the area," official sources said.

Hasan claimed that majority of the houses demolished were occupied by members of a particular community for around 150
years and that police resorted to lathicharge to chase away
its occupants.

He demanded immediate rehabilitation of those "rendered homeless", besides a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of
them.