New Delhi, Lucknow:
After two days of defiance, Mayawati, it seems, has been finally cut down to size.
After media reports, including the visuals shown on NDTV, the Supreme Court on Friday took suo moto notice of continuing construction at the memorial sites despite its directive and ordered the state government to clear out everyone but the guards within six hours.
Mayawati was left with no choice.
An angry apex court told the state government, "You are trying to play with fire. You are playing hide and seek. Our orders cannot be violated."
The court also issued notice to UP Chief Secretary and Mayawati's close aide Satish Mishra who had earlier assured that the construction would stop.
Friday's order is just a beginning. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister can expect more trouble from the Supreme Court when it begins examining whether tax payers' money can be spent on statues and memorials.
Right on cue, the Opposition scaled up their attacks on the government.
"This government should immediately be dissolved because it lacks morality and the CM has no shame at all. So the government should be immediately dissolved and we should have fresh elections," said Shivpal Yadav, Leader of Opposition, Assembly, Uttar Pradesh.
So far, the government has remained quiet, but for Mayawati who had set out for a symbolic sense of power, it is perhaps already a victory.