New Delhi: Unfazed by the criticism over filing a spate of cases against Mulayam Singh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on April 17 rejected the charge that it was a political vendetta saying he had "violated" norms while disbursing money from Chief Minister's discretionary funds.

"Whatever we have done is not out of political vengeance, but as per rules. When Yadav was Chief Minister before April 7, 1994, then he had violated norms and rules while disbursing money from the discretionary funds," she told reporters.

Accusing the Samajwadi Party of attempting to confuse the issue, she said that separate first information reports (FIRs) were being filed against the beneficiaries of the money who had put it to improper use.

Singling out senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh for attack for his criticism of her actions, Mayawati said his statements on the issue appeared to be his "personal views" and not that of his party.

Asked about BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan's reported criticism of her actions, she said that though she had not seen the comments of Mahajan, the same could have been made for lack of proper information on the issue.

Replying to queries, she dismissed suggestions that her actions would bring strains in her coalition with the BJP.

She ridiculed apprehensions expressed by Yadav that she would detain him under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) saying that she would not do any such thing against the SP leader or his supporters.

PTI