New Delhi: The BSP has refuted allegations that elephant statues installed in Uttar Pradesh resembled its election symbol. It informed the Election Commission that the statue of a pachyderm in a welcome posture was an "inalienable part" of Indian culture.
In its reply submitted to the EC following its notice on three petitions alleging that Mayawati government had deliberately installed several statues of elephants at various memorials in the state, the BSP said, "These elephants standing in welcome posture are an inalienable part of Indian culture and no parallel could be drawn between the statues standing in welcome posture and the party symbol".
The party pointed out that statues of elephants were being installed as welcome arches since ancient times. "That is why statues of elephants stand installed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. They have also been installed at Raj Bhavans and historical buildings including various temples like Akshardham temple of Delhi".
The reply submitted by party General Secretary Satish Mishra said the Mayawati government is not the first one to install statues of elephants in the state. It said the Congress government had developed a 'Haathi park' in Lucknow in 1979 where a "huge statue" of elephant was installed and it still existed.