Can one find any example in the history of Uttar Pradesh where a Chief Minister himself/herself inaugurated his/her statue. The answer is yes. The name of this Chief Minister is Mayawati who herself inaugurated her statues. In Hindu mythology, the statue of a living person is not allowed. But this cultural restriction does not matter for Mayawati. She had inaugurated twin statues at Prerna Sthal in the area of Mal Avenue, the heart of the city Lucknow. These two statues are of the founder of BSP Kanshiram and Chief Minister Mayawati.
She did not stop here. In more then one year of her reign, she inaugurated at least four more statues of herself. These are at Jail Road, Bhimrao Ambedkar Prateek Sthal (Gandhi Setu), Lohiya Path and Ambedkar Park. Sources say the average cost of each of these statues is at least between Rs 20 and 25 lakh. This is an open secret that this whimsical decision of the Chief Minister will put extra burden on the exchequer of the state, which is already in a very pathetic condition. But for Mayawati, this does not matter.
Since her assuming the office of Chief Minister, she concentrated more on these types of works than the developmental works. Her this drive clearly manifests that Mayawati is more busy in improving her image than putting the state on the track of development. In June 1995, she became Chief Minister with the help of BJP. She was CM for about four months. After that also she became CM twice with the help of BJP. This is the fourth term of her Chief Ministership. In her every regime, she concentrated only on parks, smriti sthals, universities in the name of Kanshiram, Dr Ambedkar, Ramabai Ambedkar and leaders of Bahujan Samaj like Mahatma Jyotibafule, Narayan Guru, Shahuji Maharaj and so on. About two thousand crore rupees were spent on them. In her first two regimes, she had spent two hundred crore rupees on Ambedkar Park famous as Samagric Parivartan Prateek Sthal. In her regimes Parivartan Chowk, Ambedkar Bus Station, Prerna Sthal etc. have been constructed.
In the present regime, through a whimsical decision Ambedkar Park was ruined completely and three hundred crore rupees have been spent for its renovation. This is another example of how people of UP are suffering in silence for the fantacised aspirations of Mayawati as it is further putting burden on the depleting state exchequer. Her latest decision to acquire 150 acres of land around Rama Bai Sthal for parking is facing serious protest by the people. The matter is now in Lucknow High court. The Court has asked for a detail report about the park.
The government wants to acquire around 150 acres of land for the project. About 140 acres have been notified. That part of the land belongs to private individuals. This is the reason for the entire problem. There are houses, shops and schools scattered all over this part of the land. Most of the houses constructed in the area are those of people belonging to middle income group.
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