'Use of dalit memorials for other events is violation of SC order'

LUCKNOW: Senior Bahujan Samaj Party leaders, including national general secretary Satish Mishra warned Samajwadi Party members for their plans regarding memorials and parks after Dalit icons. He stated that SP would land into serious trouble if they tried to alter the use of parks and memorials for it would amount to violation of the apex court order.

The Samajwadi Party government has decided to use land and space inside the dalit memorials for private functions by the general public. While most of the space has been recommended for running government offices, a couple of them appear apt for holding wedding ceremonies and cultural activities. "The use of land in dalit memorials for marriage and other events is in violation of High Court and Supreme Court o rder," Mishra told reporters here on Monday. "As per a Supreme Court order on February 2, 2010, state government is permitted only to hold certain repair work," he added.

Mishra also appraised Governor B L joshi and sought his intervention in the matter. BSP leaders urged the governor to recommend imposition of President's rule in the state. Swami Prasad Maurya also said that his party would start an agitation and resort to streets if the decision was not withdrawn. "This is an insult of the dalit icons. And the Sp government is doing it deliberately," said Maurya.

Mishra also said maintenance of parks is governed by provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Parks, Playgrounds and Open Spaces (preservation and regulation) Act 1975 and relevant sections in the same say that park, playgrounds or open spaces should not be used for any purpose other than the ones specified for it.

Officiating V-C LDA Ashta Bhuja Tewari refrained from commenting. But, senior officials stated they were safe. "The order S C Mishra has mentioned primarily talks about construction work and we are talking about utilising them in the best possible way," said one of them.