Reacting to the BSP demand of President’s rule in the state Samajwadi Party said that the party in whose government at least half a dozen ministers were sent behind bars is raising law and order issue is nothing but a mockery of democracy.

“Democracy gives a right to opposition party to criticize ruling party. But the criticism should be based on substance. It should not be cosmetic. How can BSP criticize SP on law and order front when rape, kidnapping and murders were the order of the day,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said in a statement issued here on Friday.

He said that BSP’s regime was one of the most lawless. “Mayawati as Chief Minister had herself admitted that over 500 BSP leaders have criminal background but had never released the list,” he said and added that officers and party leaders looted government coffer with impunity.

“Can anyone forget NRHM scam and involvement of ministers and bureaucrats in that lootIJ It was the only Government in UP where minister and IAS officer of same department were sent to jail for pocketing money that was meant to purchase medicines for the poor,” he said.

About power crisis he said that opposition parties were making a hue and cry over power crisis while this is a known fact that during summer state faces acute power shortage. State is spending Rs 15 crore daily to purchase power from central pool.

“Mayawati Government had purchased costly electricity leaving a burden of Rs 25,000 cr on the state. We cannot do this,” Chaudhry said.