LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Wednesday said she supported Anna Hazare's fight against corruption but not his method of protests. Her statement came soon after she accepted the resignation of junior minister for animal husbandry and dairy development Awadhpal Singh Yadav. Yadav resigned after being indicted by the UP Lokayukta for corruption.

The CM immediately forwarded Yadav's resignation to the governor, who accepted it.

Lokayukta NK Meharotra said: "This is a welcome development in which the CM has shown high respect to the office of the Lokayukta and given a clarion call against the corrupt."

In his report, Mehrotra recommended the dismissal of the minister after indicting him for a series of charges, including misuse of his office for his vested interests, favoring his kin in awarding government contracts, instigating violence against his opponents and indulging in activities below the dignity of his office.

Following the Lokayukta report on Tuesday, BSP leaders were in dilemma over issuing statement about Anna's agitation when one of its minister had been indicted. On Wednesday, BSP decided to ask the minister to resign and then issue a statement on Anna. The minister, also an accused in a triple murder case, had earlier rejected the demand of resignation. BSP had also defended the minister in the assembly.

After Yadav's resignation, Mayawati said her party had always been against corruption and criminalization of politics. She said the Centre should invite civil society for talks and reach a consensus on Jan Lokpal Bill. Maya also described Anna's arrest as unconstitutional and undemocratic. Maya said the BSP government in UP was the only one which sent its own party MLAs, MPs and ministers to jail after they were found involved in corruption.