LUCKNOW: Congress in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday described as unfortunate chief minister Mayawati's zeal for celebrating her birthday at a time when there is a general tendency to avoid festivities in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"It is unfortunate that while most leaders including Sonia Gandhi cancelled birthday celebrations, Muslims had a low-key Eid-ul-Azha and even hotels cancelled New Year events, Mayawati is having atrocities inflicted on people to collect money for her birthday bash," UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi told reporters in Lucknow.

Terming the gruesome killing of PWD engineer MK Gupta as a "catalyst" which has exposed the atmosphere of fear and terror prevailing in the state, she stressed the need for a sustained campaign by the opposition to stem the rot in UP government.

"Today almost each and every part of UP government is rotting and there is a need of sustained campaign and opposition to stem the rot", she said.

Congress will stage demonstrations at all the district headquarters on Januray 12 titled with slogans like 'Sharm Karo, Gaddi chodo' and will hand over a memorandum to the governor through the District Magistrates demanding sacking of the BSP government.

On January 15, Congress workers will form a human chain in Lucknow and wear black badges and hand over a memorandum to the governor TV Rajeswar demanding that the Mayawati government be dismissed.