Lucknow: Some people stoop to conquer, others to please maybe. Like Uttar Pradesh's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Padam Singh who created a veritable storm yesterday when he was caught on camera bending down to wipe the dust from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's shoes.
Padam Singh is also Mayawati's chief security officer. The clip of him cleaning Mayawati's shoes with his handkerchief was apparently taken on Sunday when the chief minister was on an inspection of Naunakpur village in Auraiya district, around 150km from here.
The video footage, taken near a helipad where several people surrounded the chief minister, was relayed by television channels yesterday. He is seen bowing low to clean her shoes as she talks to senior government officials.
Mayawati continues to tour different parts of the state.
Asked for his comments, Padam Singh told journalists here: "Yeh to manavta ke nate kiya that [I did that on humanitarian considerations]."
The opposition was quick to seize on the incident involving the Dalit chief minister.
Reacting sharply to the incident, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan told reporters: "It all reflects feudal mentality of Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who believes in reliving the royal monarchy."
"It appears that the security officer had some serious compulsions that made him perform the shameful act. I would suggest Mayawati appoint a separate contingent to take care of dust along her route and to do such errands as cleaning of her sandals."
Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi called for Mayawati's resignation.
Padam Singh is also Mayawati's chief security officer. The clip of him cleaning Mayawati's shoes with his handkerchief was apparently taken on Sunday when the chief minister was on an inspection of Naunakpur village in Auraiya district, around 150km from here.
The video footage, taken near a helipad where several people surrounded the chief minister, was relayed by television channels yesterday. He is seen bowing low to clean her shoes as she talks to senior government officials.
Mayawati continues to tour different parts of the state.
Asked for his comments, Padam Singh told journalists here: "Yeh to manavta ke nate kiya that [I did that on humanitarian considerations]."
The opposition was quick to seize on the incident involving the Dalit chief minister.
Reacting sharply to the incident, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan told reporters: "It all reflects feudal mentality of Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who believes in reliving the royal monarchy."
"It appears that the security officer had some serious compulsions that made him perform the shameful act. I would suggest Mayawati appoint a separate contingent to take care of dust along her route and to do such errands as cleaning of her sandals."
Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi called for Mayawati's resignation.
