The opposition BJP today sought to brand Uttar Pradesh [Images] Chief Minister Mayawati [Images] as a "new-age Shahjahan" apparently over spending of a huge amount of money over setting up of parks and memorials in the state.

During a debate on budget proposals in the Assembly, senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon without naming Mayawati said "after producing great reformers like Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram, the Dalit movement has now produced a Shahjahan."

Referring to BSP governments in the state with saffron party's support earlier, Tandon said the BJP helped the "daughter of a Dalit" to become chief minister for the cause of social change, but now we see that a "Shahjahan " has been born in the Dalit movement.

Tandon termed the budget as "directionless" and said a major share of Rs 700 crore earmarked for capital's development would be spent for setting up parks, statues and memorials.

Finance Minister Lalji Verma rejected the allegations in his reply on the debate and justified spending on memorials.
 Verma said his party would not hesitate to spend money to set up memorials for great people who dedicated their lives for the uplift of Dalit.