http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3816650
14/04/2010 Mayawati paints Lucknow blue for Ambedkar anniversary Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has virtually got the city painted blue on the eve of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's birth anniversary. Various memorials and monuments erected by Mayawati in different parts of the state capital were draped in blue lights, while a net of tiny blue lights was hung over every roundabout here. Thousands of hoardings, posters, banners and buntings embossed with pictures of the BSP supremo flanked all major thoroughfares of Lucknow, which wore a festive look. This was the second event within a month's span that Lucknow was soaked in blue - the ruling BSP's colour - that had transformed the city skyline. It was on March 15 - BSP founder and Mayawati's political mentor Kanshi Ram's birth anniversary - when similar adornment was witnessed here. Besides her own pictures, Mayawati also made it a point to display portraits of her party's ideologues and icons - Ambedkar, Narain Guru, Shahuji Maharaj and Ramaswamy Periyar, besides of course Kanshi Ram - all along the 18-km thoroughfare from the Lucknow airport to the Ambedkar Memorial. Other monuments, including Buddha Sthal, Kanshi Ram Memorial, Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Kanshi Ram Eco Park, Prerna Bhawan etc., built by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister at a cost of Rs.6,000 crore were also decked up in blue. And so was the chief minister's official residence as well as all key government buildings. Hordes of BSP volunteers were expected to visit the state capital to offer their tributes at the Ambedkar memorial, that was spruced up for Wednesday's show. Source: IANS
