Mayawati presented a garland of currency notes again

LUCKNOW: In a show of defiance ignoring all criticism, BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today got herself garlanded with currency notes said to be of the value of Rs 18 lakh.

The garland comprising notes of various denominations was put around her neck at a meeting of party leaders despite an opposition outcry over her being presented a similar garland of value estimated between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 15 crore at a massive rally here on Monday.

"Wherever she goes, she will henceforth be greeted with garland of notes and not with garland of flowers," state PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui told reporters after the meeting.

The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo has came under sharp attack inside and outside Parliament after she got the "multi crore" currency garland comprising notes of Rs 1000.

The IT department has decided to investigate the source of the money for the garland presented to her at the 'Maha' rally.

The Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party have also demanded a CBI probe.

Siddiqui had yesterday rejected speculation that the value of notes in the garland ran into crores of rupees, saying that the money totalled only Rs 21 lakh.