BSP demands President rule in UP over Dalit memorials 'misuse'

LUCKNOW: Upset over UP government's decision to allow Dalit memorials constructed during previous Mayawati regime to be used for cultural functions, BSP today demanded imposition of President's rule in the state.

A delegation of BSP leaders met Governor BL Joshi and handed him a memorandum, stating that the move was in violation of High Court and Supreme Court orders.

"The use of land in Dalit memorials for marriage and other events is in violation of High Court and Supreme Court's order, which means state government is deliberately doing it.

"It has no right to continue and we have demanded from the Governor to impose President's rule in the state,"BSP National General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra told reporters.

BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya said his party would start an agitation and come out on the streets if the decision was not withdrawn.

The Samajwadi Party government had recently allowed holding marriage ceremonies and other events at various Dalit memorials in the state, claiming that the land there was "unutilised".