SP,BSP spar over Lohia statue

Later,Mulayam claimed that he unveiled the statue in spite of attempts to stop him. The statue was installed in 2007,when I was CM. I was unable to unveil the statue as the model code of conduct came into force during the Assembly elections in 2007. We waited for three long years for the government to act,then we decided to unveil the statue.

In the evening,BSP claimed that the statue was unveiled by hospital director R S Dube. In a statement,state BSP chief Swami Prasad Maurya criticised Mulayam for using a hospital for playing politics.

ASP Trans-Gomti Paresh Pandey said the SP men were stopped because they had not sought prior permission. In any case,there was no question of unveiling the statue as it was not covered and had already been inaugurated. How can a statue be unveiled twice?

In the evening,however,the hospital director unveiled the same statue.