Mayawati inaugurates dream park in Noida (VIDEO)
The chief minister of India's most populous state, Mayawati, unveiled Friday her dream park in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The park, referred to by the Times of India as her "pet project," cost 685 crore rupees or about $150 billion.
NDTV states that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister arrived by helicopter helicopter and was greeted by a convoy of expensive cars, red carpet and officials when she visited the Rashtriya Dalit Smarak to inaugurate the park.
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The 33-acre park features lawns, statues and water fountains.
Mayawati, who is preparing for a 2012 state election, made a speech at the ceremony, saying that the glamorous park is for the state's poor people who migrate to the state capital. Mayawati is from the Dalit community, previously known as untouchables.
The park has garnered Mayawati significant criticism, with her political opponents in the Congress party calling the project a waste of money.
NDTV reports that Congress spokeswoman Renuka Chowdhury said, "Her priorities are misplaced… With Mayawati it always about me, myself and I."
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