The Hindu : National : Mayawati lashes out at Hindi daily

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Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

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National

Mayawati lashes out at Hindi daily

LUCKNOW, SEPT. 7. The BSP president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, today lashed out at a popular Hindi daily for allegedly using ``derogatory and intemperate words'' by addressing her by her caste in one of its editions and threatened legal action against the newspaper.

Displaying a photocopy of the news item published purportedly in the Meerut edition of the newspaper on Monday in which she was addressed by her caste, she at a press conference here termed it as ``highly reprehensible'' and a well-planned conspiracy by the ``Manuvadi elements'' to incite caste violence. Her party was contemplating legal action against the publication, she added.

Dignity of media

Ms. Mayawati said it was not only an attack on the democracy but also against the dignity of the media and misuse of freedom. Maintaining that the news item had created ``deep resentment'' among the BSP workers, Ms. Mayawati appealed to them to exercise restraint.

A report from Ghaziabad said a criminal case had been registered against the Chief Editor, the News Editor and a Correspondent of the daily in Noida following protests by BSP workers.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, Jai Narain Singh, said the case was registered last night at Sector 20 Police Station in Noida to ``avoid clash'' as angry BSP activists demanded the registration of a criminal case against the journalists of the daily.

The complainant and president of the Gautam Budh Nagar unit of the BSP Kartar Singh Nagar alleged that the use of word ``Chamariya'' in the newspaper was indicative of caste feelings and a ``high sense of hate'' towards their leader. — PTI

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