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It’s Mayawati’s prerogative: Congress

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday said it was the “prerogative” of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati to withdraw support to the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

“She can do whatever she feels is in the interest of her party,” Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said.

The Congress was reacting to Ms. Mayawati’s remark earlier in the day that some Congress leaders were trying to eliminate her and that the BSP would take a decision on continuing its support to the UPA after January 15.

While refuting the charge as “baseless,” Ms. Natarajan appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide appropriate security to Ms. Mayawati. “Her security should be jointly decided by the State and the Centre. In the State, she herself is the Chief Minister. As far as the Government of India is concerned, we appeal to the Prime Minister to extend her appropriate security.”

AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh said Ms. Mayawati’s charges were “unacceptable.” “We are not denying that she should have appropriate security and the Central government must look into the perception of threat to her life. The provision of SPG cover would require an amendment to the law. She enjoys National Security Guard cover. The State administration is in her hands. What is she frightened of?”

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