Chairman of SC Commission fears threat to life in UP

Lucknow, Jan 12 (PTI) Congress MP and chairman of theScheduled Castes Commission P L Punia today feared threat tohis life in the absence of adequate security by Uttar Pradeshgovernment during his official visits to the state.

"Though the Union Home Ministry as well as the Commissionhas been writing to the state government for providingsecurity, nothing has been done so far," he told PTI.

He said if anything happened to him, the Mayawatigovernment would be held responsible.

Punia, a retired IAS officer, said he was all the moreworried as efforts were allegedly being made to frame him insome old case.

"I have been told that the state government has directedofficials to somehow find an issue to frame charges against mein some old case," he said.

Punia, who had been Mayawati''s principal secretaryduring her previous regimes, alleged that the BSP leadershipdid not want any leader, other than the chief minister, torise.

He fell out of favour with Mayawati on the Taj Corridorcase and joined the Congress after his retirement and won thelast Lok Sabha poll from Barabanki.

Punia later visited Mirzapur to participate in aprogramme aimed at creating awareness about the schemeslaunched for the SC community.

He alleged that Mayawati was getting rattled up withhis efforts to educate the community on these schemes.

"When I talk about the interest of dalits, Mayawatifeels bad. In fact, she is their biggest enemy," Punia said.