Recorded message seeking cash for Mayawati released

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh on Sunday released recorded telephone conversations of what he claimed to be Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders asking party workers to collect money for Chief Minister Mayawati.

"The CD also has details of how Rs2 million (Dh150,175) was collected by senior BSP leaders Tilak Chand Ahirwal and C.P. Singh and given to Delhi BSP leader Suresh Chand," Amar Singh told reporters here.

He alleged that the money was then distributed among 39 party workers and local leaders, like corporators of Delhi, and they were directed to make bank drafts in the name of BSP chief Mayawati to be sent to her, he added.

He said all the drafts were issued within a span of 10 days in February 2007 and this was just one instance of how the Uttar Pradesh chief minister "converts her black money into white money".

"The CD has conversations of senior BSP leaders directing party cadres to send money to Mayawati," Singh said.

He said the CD had details of the bank drafts, including its number, the person who got it made and the name of the bank, among other things.

"We demand that the Central Bureau of Investigation [CBI] should scan the bank accounts of Mayawati and other BSP leaders as the money collected in the name of donations for the party is going into Mayawati's account," Singh said.

"We will also approach the Election Commission and demand that the BSP's recognition be withdrawn," he added. There was no immediate comment from the BSP on the charges.

New Delhi (IANS) The Samajwadi Party yesterday accused Cong-ress general secretary Digvijay Singh of insulting Manyata, the wife of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt whom the party named a candidate for the Lok Sabha polls from Lucknow.

"Digvijay Singh refused to recognise Manyata and insulted her," Amar Singh told reporters here.

When asked for his reaction to Manyata's name being proposed, the Congress leader on Saturday said he didn't know who she was.

The Samajwadi Party had proposed Manyata's name in case Sanjay Dutt is not allowed to contest the polls because of criminal cases against him.

"Suppose I ask who is Laxman Singh. Is he the same person who is Digvijay Singh's brother who is in the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)?" Singh said sarcastically.

The Samajwadi Party had last week proposed Sanjay Dutt as its nominee for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat but immediately thereafter doubts had been raised about his eligibility in view of the criminal cases against him.