Mayawati's latest fad sure to draw criticism

New Delhi : Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati continues to spend public money for personal use notwithstanding court strictures and criticism by her political opponents.

After spending billions on erecting monuments and constructing parks with statues of her as well as her mentor, Kanshi Ram, now public money is being spent on making her residence as well as the BSP office in the state capital, Lucknow, bullet-proof.

The state administration has hired a Punjab-based company to carry out the work for 45 million rupees (Dh3.5 million).

The reason given for the latest spending spree is the apparent threat to Mayawati's life. Interestingly, the federal Home Ministry does not buy the state government's assessment about the personal threat to the chief minister as it had recently turned down Mayawati's demand for a security detail of the elite National Security Guard (NSG), much to her annoyance.

Terrorist threat

NSG cover is normally extended to only those assessed as being on the hit list of terrorists or Maoists and Mayawati's name does not figure in such lists.

According to an Uttar Pradesh state government spokesman, the chief minister's official residence as well as the BSP office situated in Lucknow's Mall Avenue would be made bullet-proof following a recent security assessment.

The recent arrest in Lucknow of a suspected terrorist with alleged links with a Pakistan-based group is being seen as a sign that terrorist groups may be trying to target Mayawati, although central intelligences agencies do not agree with this perception.

"It was felt necessary that the chief minister should be well protected. Glass of all doors and windows would be replaced with bullet-proof glass at both her residence and the BSP office," a state government spokesman confirmed.

Against precedent

Interestingly, very few government offices and bungalows have been accorded bullet-proof protection even in the national capital New Delhi with those perceived as being on the hit list of terrorists having to content themselves with a security detail at best.

The state government's decision to make even the office of the ruling party bullet-proof is bound to attract criticism since there is no provision to provide for similar cover to offices of the rival parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Curiously, Mayawati seldom visits the Lucknow-based BSP office and prefers to attend to most of her duties as the BSP national president from her residence.