Irked by controversy over allotment of bungalows to her party in Delhi, BSP chief Mayawati today hit out at media for "wrongly" projecting it as favour from the Centre, saying it reflected their anti-Dalit mentality.
"After a long struggle we got two additional Type-V bungalows as per the rules which were merged to extend Bahujan Prerna Kendra on an area of about one-and-a-half acre of land, but a section of electronic media and some newspapers are showing it as a big news that we have got a big piece of land from the central government," Mayawati told newspersons here.
She said that as the land on which the Kendra was earlier set up was not enough to house all things connected with the memory of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, a request for adjoining two bungalows was made as per rules and they were later made available.
"Earlier too lands were provided for memorials and museums of other leaders, but newspapers and TV channels have not gone after them. This only proves their (media's) anti-Dalit mentality," she said.
"The expenditure on Bahujan Prerna Kendra in the honour of Kanshi Ram is being made by our trust whereas at other places it has been done on government cost but those having anti-Dalit mentality call it flouting of rules," she said.
Several residential bungalows had been turned into party offices but they were never discussed, the BSP chief said.
The former Chief Minister accused media of making attempts to tarnish her image before the coming elections.
"Some of the newspapers are showing unfounded news about the property of my brothers and sisters although I have nothing to do with it....whereas nothing of the sort is said in the case of other leaders...if this is not anti-Dalit mentality then what is it," she asked.
