Defending his government's decision to use memorials and parks constructed in memory of Dalit icons during the previous Mayawati regime for marriages and cultural events, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said by holding such programmes the memorials "would only earn name".
"What's wrong in holding marriages and other pubic events at the memorials...By doing this, these memorials will only earn name...," Yadav told media.
He said the memorials were constructed from public money and the SP had earlier said that it would make utilisation of the space in them.
"Ashtdhatu trees and animals were installed in these parks...How else can they be put to better use than this...," he added.
The state government had recently decided to rent out the space in memorials for marriages and public events inviting ire of BSP, which said it is an insult to Dalit icons on whose name the memorials had been constructed.
