Jyotiraditya case: Cong blocks NH in MP

Shivpuri, MP, Sep 27 (UNI) A few vehicles were damaged this evening by Congress workers who blocked the Agra-Mumbai National Highway for about an hour in this district demanding withdrawal of a case against party MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

The blockade was lifted after Superintendent of Police Dinesh Chandra Sharma reached the spot and assured that the matter would be looked into. Congress leaders and workers staged a sit-in and demonstration here today and warned that an intense agitation would be launched if the demand was not met.

The party's state President Subhash Yadav and former minister Mahendra Singh Kalukheda also came here this evening and condemned registering of the case.

The workers forced closure of fuel pumps in the main market and staged a sit-in at the Hospital crossing. Local MLA Veerendra Raghuvanshi, Ashoknagar district's Mungawali legislator Gopal Singh, his Datia counterpart Ghanshyam Singh, some ex-MLAs, Congress office-bearers and several workers took part in the sit-in.

A heavy police contingent was stationed at the spot and Deputy Inspector-General (Gwalior Range) Adarsh Katiyar also reached there.

''The district administration and police indulged in partiality,'' alleged Congress Shivpuri District Unit President Lala Sahab Yadav.

On the other hand, Pohri's Rashtriya Samanata Dal legislator Harivallabh Shukla told mediapersons that the case against Mr Scindia and his supporters was genuine.

Mr Scindia's supporters came to blows with their Shukla counterparts after a dispute over the MLA laying the foundation stone for a few roads in this district's Pohri assembly constituency, under the Prime Minister's Village Roads Scheme, even before Mr Scindia arrived for yesterday's programme. Cases were registered at Bairaad Police Station against Mr Scindia, Mr Shukla and their supporters.

UNI