Cash garland, statue, now a Mayawati temple

By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 03 April 2010, 20:03 IST   |    25 Comments
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Cash garland, statue, now a Mayawati temple
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is already facing a row of criticisms for encouraging cash garlands, erecting her own statues along with other dalit icons in the state and now, a temple in her name. A lawyer in Mahoba district has sought permission from the authorities to build a temple after Mayawati in his own land. "Of course, we are planning to install her idol in the temple that will come up on my private land," said Kanaihya Lal, Mahoba-based lawyer. Lal equate the BSP supremo with Lord Buddha and said that there is nothing wrong in constructing a temple after her. "Mayawati is revered by the dalits and down trodden, she is like a goddess for many people in the country," he said. Lal is not a functionary of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) but a Dalit. He says he got provoked by the hue and cry over a garland of currency notes gifted to Mayawati on her birthday last month. "We are all set to build a temple where her followers will be free to offer such garlands every day," he added. He has forwarded the application to the officials for further actions. Local officials have told him that since the proposed idol in the temple would be that of a living person, it would be appropriate to obtain formal permission from the person. "Under the circumstances, I will now move a request to the chief minister through the district BSP coordinator," Lal said.

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