Tikait arrest to enforce law: Mayawati

Tikait arrest to enforce law: Mayawati The arrest of BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait is to enforce the rule of law and not out of any personal or caste enmity, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has said, she said there has been criticism that the arrest has been delayed. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Wednesday, she said it was government's responsibility to enforce law. "Tikait has apologised for his remarks. He has submitted himself before the law. Now the law will take its course," the chief minister said. "We could have arrested him on the same day when he made the remarks but my government, police and the administration have shown patience. I am happy that despite tension the police and administration had shown restraint during the arrest. I congratulate these people." Mayawati accused the Congress, the BJP and their allies of not implementing the SC/ST Act effectively in the states where these parties were in power. She demanded the resignation of Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal for his reported statement that Tikait should not be arrested. The Chief Minister also demanded the resignation of National SC/ST Commission Chairman Buta Singh for "remaining silent" on the entire affair. "It appears he (Buta Singh) has lost his voice or else the Congress has gagged it," Mayawati said. Singh should resign fortwith on moral grounds, she said. Mayawati said all the opposition parties rallied behind Tikait the moment her government decided to take strict action against him. "It is a matter of regret that a Union Minister has given a statement that Tikait should not be arrested," she said. The Union Minister of State for Home should immediately resign on moral grounds for making such a statement, the Chief Minister said. Mayawati alleged the Congress, the BJP and their allies never effectively implemented the SC/ST Act during their regimes not only in UP but in the entire country. "The result is that an ordinary person (mamuli aadmi) could gather courage to use casteist words against an SC Chief Minister of a big state," Mayawati said. She said the attitude of the Congress in the entire episode smacked of its "anti-dalit mentality". Mayawati said her government was committed to implement the SC/ST Act in Uttar Pradesh in letter and spirit. She showered praise on the officials for their "able" handling of the situation. "Tikait has been arrested and now the law will take its own course," Mayawati said. Tikait surrenders before court, granted bail BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, accused of making casteist remarks against UP Chief Minister Mayawati, was granted bail after he surrendered in the district court in Bijnore on Wednesday. Tikait, who reached Bijnore from Muzaffarnagar, was granted bail by Additional District Judge Shambhu Sharan Mishra after he furnished two sureties of Rs 20,000 each. Earlier, Tikait, who is facing charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Indian Penal Code, surrendered before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Brajendra Kumar Tyagi. Tyagi, however, forwarded the case to District Judge Subhash Chander Aggarwal on the ground that it was beyond his powers to hear it. Aggarwal then referred the matter to Additional District Judge Shambhu Sharan Mishra, who reserved his order on the bail application after hearing it.

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