The grand celebrations associated with BSP supremo Mayawati’s birthday were missing this year, as the occasion was marred by protests, dharnas and gheraos organized by opposition parties who worry that the third front prime ministerial hopeful’s reign in the country’s most politically significant state may foil their electoral advances.
Mayawati attributed the toned down celebrations to the Mumbai terror strikes, but opposition parties said the fanfare was missing due to the murder of a PWD engineer which was linked to the fund raising drive around the leaders 53rd birthday.
Not one to cow down, UP Chief Minister, Mayawati who unveiled various populist schemes on the occasion said: "Thanks to the Opposition, this year we collected twice the money we collected last year, and this will be used for the next Lok Sabha elections."
She said that the fund raising marking her birthday was started at the behest of her mentor Kanshiram who said the day should be observed Arthik Sahyog Diwas with the sole objective of assisting the party financially.
Berating those that grudge the support she enjoys Mayawati said “Perhaps, it is not going down well with opposition parties, which are funded by capitalists," she said.
Attempting to take the opposition attacks head-on she said: "The engineer's murder has nothing to with the fund raising," while blaming the opposition of indulging in a "sleaze" campaign to malign her and the BSP.
Though relatively mellow the day was not shorn of drama, as zealous UP police officials ordered the use of force against SP workers in Lucknow that observed the day as ‘Thu Thu Divas.’
Later in the day SP chief Mulayam Singh accused Mayawati of adopting undemocratic methods to stifle the opposition, he said the party had submitted a memorandum to Governor TV Rajeswar demanding the dismissal of the government.
Meanwhile, SP national general secretary Amar Singh, Rampur MP Jaya Prada and Bhojpuri film star Manoj Tewari were denied entry into Gorakhpur on Thursday. They were there to lead the SP agitation.
Amar Singh was stopped at the Gorakhpur airport.
A Home Department spokesman later said the district administration feared that Mr. Amar Singh’s entry would cause a law and order problem.
Home Secretary Javed Ahmed said Amar Singh returned from the airport.
He added that Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav were among the SP leaders arrested in Lucknow.
Trouble erupted when opposition parties, including the SP and the Congress staged state-wide protest. The police resorted to a lathi charge and burst tear-gas shells to disperse a mob of agitating SP activists who skirmished with security personnel in the Kaiserbagh area of Lucknow.
Several SP and Congress workers were injured in the lathi charge.
Mayawati attributed the toned down celebrations to the Mumbai terror strikes, but opposition parties said the fanfare was missing due to the murder of a PWD engineer which was linked to the fund raising drive around the leaders 53rd birthday.
Not one to cow down, UP Chief Minister, Mayawati who unveiled various populist schemes on the occasion said: "Thanks to the Opposition, this year we collected twice the money we collected last year, and this will be used for the next Lok Sabha elections."
She said that the fund raising marking her birthday was started at the behest of her mentor Kanshiram who said the day should be observed Arthik Sahyog Diwas with the sole objective of assisting the party financially.
Berating those that grudge the support she enjoys Mayawati said “Perhaps, it is not going down well with opposition parties, which are funded by capitalists," she said.
Attempting to take the opposition attacks head-on she said: "The engineer's murder has nothing to with the fund raising," while blaming the opposition of indulging in a "sleaze" campaign to malign her and the BSP.
Though relatively mellow the day was not shorn of drama, as zealous UP police officials ordered the use of force against SP workers in Lucknow that observed the day as ‘Thu Thu Divas.’
Later in the day SP chief Mulayam Singh accused Mayawati of adopting undemocratic methods to stifle the opposition, he said the party had submitted a memorandum to Governor TV Rajeswar demanding the dismissal of the government.
Meanwhile, SP national general secretary Amar Singh, Rampur MP Jaya Prada and Bhojpuri film star Manoj Tewari were denied entry into Gorakhpur on Thursday. They were there to lead the SP agitation.
Amar Singh was stopped at the Gorakhpur airport.
A Home Department spokesman later said the district administration feared that Mr. Amar Singh’s entry would cause a law and order problem.
Home Secretary Javed Ahmed said Amar Singh returned from the airport.
He added that Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav were among the SP leaders arrested in Lucknow.
Trouble erupted when opposition parties, including the SP and the Congress staged state-wide protest. The police resorted to a lathi charge and burst tear-gas shells to disperse a mob of agitating SP activists who skirmished with security personnel in the Kaiserbagh area of Lucknow.
Several SP and Congress workers were injured in the lathi charge.
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