Two days after declaring assets to the tune of Rs 52 crore and amidst questions being raised about that, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday claimed that the money had been given to her by Bahujan Samaj Party workers from across the country.
"The BSP workers, who earlier used to send the money to the party, started sending it to me thinking that I had no money. They (workers) asked me to utilise the money in any way I wanted--for constructing a bungalow in Delhi or in investment," she told reporters.
In remarks tinged with sarcasm, the chief minister said she was grateful to the previous BJP-led regime at the Centre for the CBI raids at her residences saying because they failed to 'yield' anything the BSP workers began sending gifts in the form of cash as 'I had nothing'.
Mayawati, who has declared that she has some prime pieces of property in Delhi -- both residential and commercial -- in an affidavit she filed on Monday along with her nomination papers to the legislative council election, said unlike other leaders she did not not hide anything.
She said unlike other leaders she did not not hide anything.
"I don't hide anything. Everything is mentioned in the income tax returns and the tax is paid," the BSP supremo said.
The chief minister also dismissed reports that she had filed any appeal in the settlement commission nor did she intend to do so.
Mayawati said that she had shunned her family and now 'sarvasamaj (all communities) is my family'. She accused the media of airing 'baseless and motivated' news items about her assets.