Buta Singh accuses Mayawati of denying info to panel

Under attack from Mayawati on the issue of alleged casteist remarks against her, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairperson Buta Singh on Friday accused the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister of denying the panel relevant documents needed to take action.

Asserting that the Commission would summon farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, who allegedly made the casteist remarks, as soon as possible, Singh said he had asked the Bijnore District Magistrate for a text of the remarks on the day of the incident, but was yet to get it.

"I tried to contact Mayawati thrice. However, every time, the personal staff of the Chief Minister expressed ignorance and lack of understanding of the name and status of Buta Singh," he said.

Expressing anguish over this, Singh claimed that Mayawati had always tried to "belittle" him and had behaved like this earlier too.

Singh, however, said the Commission has taken full cognizance of the issue and would summon Tikait as soon as he got the relevant documents. "The Commission supports the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in this matter," he added.

Tikait had allegedly made casteist remarks against Maywati while addressing a rally.