No link between birthday and engineer killing, claims Mayawati

Lucknow, Jan 15 (PTI) In the backdrop of an outcry by
the opposition over alleged extortion by Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) cadres for her birthday celebrations, Chief Minister of
India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati Thursday
claimed there was not the "remotest link" between her birthday
and the killing of a PWD engineer in Auriyya district.

"These (opposition) parties carried out various kinds
of dramas to defame my party even as we took strong action
against all the accused involved in the killing. There was not
not even the remotest link between my birthday and the
killing," Mayawati, who turned 53 Thursday, told reporters
here.

"Even the family members of the deceased were
satisfied with the police investigation in the case. They met
me two days back and and said that they were not demanding CBI
(Central Bureau of Investigation) probe," the Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister said.

Taking a dig at the opposition, she said BSP workers
collected "double the amount" of donations for the party this
time thanks to their onslaught against her and the party in
the wake of the killing of executive engineer M K Gupta last
month allegedly by a party MLA. She said the funds were
collected for fighting the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"I hope that they (opposition parties) think similarly
about our party in future as well so that we can grow.
Whenever opposition parties resorted to such obnoxious
attacks on BSP, the party has only increased its influence,"
she said.

BSP observed the day as 'Dhikkar Divas' (condemnation
day) after the opposition parties linked collection of money
on her birthday to the killing of the engineer.

The main opposition in the state Samajwadi Party
observed this day as 'Thu Thu Divas' (Spiting Day).

Mayawati alleged that the opposition parties attempted
to link the killing to her birthday keeping in mind the
election as her party's influence was growing.

"Had I wished, my party leaders could have replied to
the opposition in similar manner but I do not allow my party
workers to engage in such cheap politics", she added. PTI AMR
DEP