A leading Indian politician says that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be sent to an insane asylum, angrily dismissing allegations contained in a series of U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by the organization.
U.S. officials allegedly described the chief minister of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh as a “first-rate egomaniac” who has “institutionalized corruption.”
The U.S. embassy cables dated between 2007 and 2009 describe Mayawati as “a virtual paranoid dictator” who charges her party's parliamentary candidates $250,000 to run for election. The cables also allege the chief minister lives an inappropriately lavish lifestyle and once sent a private jet to Mumbai solely to pick up a new pair of sandals.
Mayawati rejected the claims on Tuesday, telling reporters the allegations were “wrong, baseless and disgusting.” She alleged the claims were an attack on India's lowest Dalit (untouchable) caste, of which she is a member.
She said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was either insane or being used by the opposition.
Assange responded sharply to her comments, saying U.S. diplomats were responsible for the allegations, not him. He called on Mayawati to “admit her error and apologize.”
Assange is currently living under virtual house arrest in Britain, while fighting extradition to Sweden for questioning on sexual misconduct charges.
The WikiLeaks founder joked on Tuesday that he was willing to bring Mayawati a “range of the finest British footwear” if the chief minister offered him political asylum in India and sent her private jet to Britain to pick him up.
Assange added that if Mayawati has a problem with the allegations made in the diplomatic cables, he should take it up with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Mayawati boasts strong support among lower-caste Indians in the northern part of the country, but has been criticized by local media for excessive displays of wealth in her poverty-stricken state. She has been greeted with garlands made of 1,000 rupee ($20) notes. Mayawati has also spent millions of dollars erecting giant statues of herself in Uttar Pradesh's public parks.
