Supreme Court to Mayawati: Stop "hide-and-seek"

Lucknow: For the second day in a row, the Supreme Court told Mayawati exactly what it thinks of her. "It appears your government is playing hide and seek. If you want to have a confrontation with the court, have it. But your behavior doesn't appear to be that of a responsible government."

The court's fury has been provoked by what it sees as a blatant defiance of its orders. Last month, the court told the Uttar Pradesh government to stop construction at the parks that Mayawati describes as memorials to Dalit leaders, including herself. But media reports, including one by NDTV, showed labourers busy at work.

The tough talking by the court on Tuesday, however, worked wonders. Within minutes of the court's remarks in Delhi, workers were seen leaving the disputed parks in Lucknow.

This could be why. The court has suggested it may push for Mayawati's government to be dismissed. It said, "You have flagrantly violated our orders. If you go ahead, then the ball will be in the Central government's court."

That's a long shot. "This happened with Kalyan Singh in the Babri Masjid case. But just because one order of the court is not implemented, will that be sufficient to impose President's Rule? I don't think it will go that far,'' says P P Rao, Constitutional Expert.

So, who will take the blame for defying the court's order in the first place?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta has been summoned to court in November, because affidavits defending the UP government have been filed in his name.  Many say he may be made the scapegoat for what's clearly an order from the very top.