By IANS,
Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati Saturday warned the state government not to touch the statues of Dalit icons built by her.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government would not touch the statues but utilise the surrounding open space of about 3,000 acres in Noida and Lucknow.
He said the government planned to build schools and hospitals in the space, a promise made by his Samajwadi Party (SP) in its election manifesto.
Warning of serious retaliation in the event of damage to the statues, Mayawati said the government would be responsible for any untoward incident.
Addressing media on the sidelines of a function here to mark the birth anniversary of Dalit icon Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the BSP supremo said the Dalits would not tolerate any harm to the statues of their leaders.
She said the state government should learn from her government which neither pulled down any statues or modified parks or other places which were dear to the leaders of the SP.