Indian minister wants police squad to protect her statues

An Indian politician is calling for a police force to be created to protect statues she has erected of herself and her mentors.

The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, Mayawati, says her political opponents want to demolish the statues.

A bill proposing the force has been introduced in the state assembly, to be debated at a later date.



Ms Mayawati has been criticised for spending $1bn (£0.6bn) on monuments of herself and other low-caste leaders.

She remains popular among India's 160 million low-caste Dalits, formerly known as "untouchables" - but critics accuse her of self-glorification and wasting public money in what is one of India's poorest states.

India's Supreme Court has ordered the state government to halt further building work on the statues until it decides whether the expense can be justified.