New Delhi, Mar 07: Stepping up her counter-offensive in the wake of the tape controversy involving her, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav would not be spared if evidence was found of his alleged misuse of chief minister's discretionary fund. She ruled out her resignation following the tape controversy, which allegedly showed her as telling BSP lawmakers to set aside part of their constituency development fund for party coffers. "The question of tendering resignation does not arise," Mayawati told reporters after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani here.
She said stern action would be taken against all those found guilty of "misuse" of the chief minister's discretionary fund during Yadav's tenure at the helm of UP. "If the inquiry brings out facts against Yadav, stern action would be taken against him also. Yadav will not be spared," she said and accused Samjawadi Party of being "desperate" following the defeat of its no-confidence motion against her government.
"I have already replied to the tape issue raised by Mulayam Singh Yadav on March 4 by calling a press conference and issuing a press note. I do not want to repeat that," the chief minister said.
Mayawati said Yadav should "publicly apologise" for coming out with a "forged" and edited video tape against her which allegedly showed her telling BSP lawmakers to divert part of their constituency development to party coffers. The BSP leader said she discussed with Advani the strategy to be adopted for contesting jointly the Lok Sabha polls in 2004.
Bureau Report