Citing a “sting operation” containing audio recordings of some BSP workers, SP general secretary Amar Singh accused the party’s national

office of converting funds generated through “forced collections” from government officials and the public into “donations” in Mayawati’s name. Along with the EC, Singh said he has also written to the Prime Minister and the President.

“All BSP legislators, MPs and party functionaries are ordered to collect funds from government officials as well as the public on the occasion of Mayawati’s birthday on January 15. This cash is then sent to the BSP national office where top officer-bearers distribute it among party workers in other states. The amount of money given to them varies from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore depending on their position in the party,” Amar Singh alleged in his written complaint. “These office-bearers then instruct various party workers to take the cash to banks and get drafts prepared in the name of Mayawati. It is to be noted that all drafts are generally prepared in small denominations so that they go unnoticed.”

In his complaint, Singh has alleged that senior BSP leaders Tilak Chand Ahirwal and C P Singh gave Rs 20 lakh to Delhi BSP leader Suresh Chand to “convert this black money into white by hiring people (BSP workers)” and getting DDs of small denominations made in Mayawati’s name. In fact, Singh also released a list of 39 “BSP workers” who had got DDs made for the above Rs 20 lakh.

The SP general secretary, in his complaint, urged the EC, PM and President to look into whether BSP can “engage itself in such illegal activity”.

The SP’s offensive comes days ahead of Mayawati’s birthday on January 15 and soon after the death of engineer M K Gupta, allegedly after he was assaulted by BSP legislator Shekhar Tiwari who had been asking him to pay up for the CM’s birthday.

SP to fight RLD