Opposition, media defaming Mayawati, alleges Misra

LUCKNOW - The opposition and media are running an orchestrated campaign to defame Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, her confidant and Bahujan Samaj Party general secretary Satish Chandra Misra said Wednesday.

Addressing one of his rare press conferences here, Misra said: “Opposition parties were indulging in a mud-slinging campaign against the chief minister and the media was lapping it up without apparently realising that their act amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court.”

The press conference was called to clarify the state government’s position on constructions at the sites of various memorials devoted to BSP icons.

The Supreme Court, hearing a lawsuit, asked the state once again on Tuesday to stop constructions or face contempt action. On previous occasions, media reports indicated that constructions had gone on despite apex court orders.

Misra said, “Observations or remarks made casually by any court are not a part of the court’s order or the judicial process, but certain newspapers and a few TV channels chose to project these as judgements; therefore, we have every reason to raise an objection.”

Misra said, “Statements issued by certain opposition leaders were only aimed at defaming the chief minister and their comments with respect to the matters that were sub judice were clearly intended to influence the court.”

He added, “We may consider both contempt as well as a defamation suits against those who were responsible for doing so.”

He reiterated the government’s stance that the Mayawati administration had not committed any violation of the Supreme Court’s order.

“The media projected an incorrect picture by accusing the state government of proceeding with the construction despite the court order, when fact remained that construction was continued only in areas not falling within the ambit of writ petitions pending before courts,” he explained.

Referring to the apex court’s issue of contempt notice to the state chief secretary on the issue, Misra said, “I am confident that the state government would be cleared of the false accusation once the chief secretary clarifies that no construction was carried out in any area barred by the court.”

“Perhaps the Supreme Court had not understood what we were trying to convey earlier; yet, in accordance with the court’s wishes, we decided to suspend all work even at the sites which do not form part of any pending litigation.”