New Delhi, August 13: Asserting that the images and statues of the elephant were an inseparable part of India’s art and culture, the Bahujan Samaj Party has rejected the allegation that the statues of the animal installed in the various memorials by its government in Uttar Pradesh had anything to do with the party symbol.
In its reply to an Election Commission notice, the party also justified installation of its president Mayawati’s statue, saying that it was done to fulfil the wishes of party founder and a ”great social reformer” Kanshiram.
The Election Commission notice had asked for the party’s comments on various complaints that the state government was using public resources in installing Ms Mayawati’s statue and in publicising the party symbol ‘elephant’.
The party told the commission that it would not like to give a detailed reply as the matter was before the Supreme Court on a complaint filed by the same people on whose complaint the Commission had sent the notice, but said it would like to place certain facts before it.
BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Misra cited to the Commission various instances in which governments other than that of the BSP had installed the sculpture of the animal at various public places and historical buildings.
He said the statues of the elephant installed in diferentmemorials by the state government were standing in welcome posture with their trunks raised, an image that was an inalienable part of Indian culture, and therefore no parallel could be drawn to the image of the elephant allotted as BSP’s symbol.
Mr Misra said the sculpture of the animal is to be found at the main entry of Rashtrapati Bhawan, at various Raj Bhawans, and many other historial buildings and temples across the country.
”The elephant has been treated as aupicious and a welcome symbol since ancient times in not only India but in countries across the world. Almost every child knows of the references to elephants in folklore, the Hindi epics, the puranas and in tales from the life of Buddha and the panchatantra tales,” he said.
–Agencies