Lucknow: Just two days after she shocked the nation by accepting a garland worth crores of rupees, BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati accepted another garland made of currency notes worth Rs 18 lakh today.

 

It was a clear defiance to the outrage over the multi-crore garland, which was presented to Mayawati on March 15 during the founding day of the BSP in Lucknow.

 

While the Opposition parties said that the garland (March 15) contained currency notes worth Rs 5 - 22.5 crore, BSP leader and UP PWD Minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui said that it was just worth Rs 21 lakh.

 

Nasimuddin Siddiqui also said that Mayawati will be felicitated only with cash garlands in future. "This second cash garland is a reply to our rivals", he said. The opposition parties are planning to file a PIL against Mayawati soon.

 

The second cash garland was presented to Mayawati from 18 party units in the state. It was made of Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. The first garland was made of Rs 1000 notes only.

 

The Income Tax department is reportedly planning to probe the source of the cash garlands presented to Mayawati. The Congress left it to the people of Uttar Pradesh to decide whether they want a CM of cash garlands or not.