BSP, BJP demand Mulayam govt dismissal over serial blasts

Lucknow, Mar 8 (UNI) The Opposition BJP and BSP legislators today marched to the Raj Bhawan to demand the dismissal of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh following the serial blasts at Varanasi.

BSP legislators, led by legislature party leader Swami Prasad Maurya, marched to the Raj Bhawan from the Vidhan Bhawan seeking dismissal of the Mulayam government for ''sacrificing innocent lives to further its political interests.'' The BJP too demanded imposition of President's rule in UP to get people rid of a ''government supporting Islamic fundamentalists.'' Before commencing the march, BSP MLAs also held a demonstration at the gates of the legislature building to criticise the interim order of Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey allowing rebel BSP MLAs to share seats with treasury benches.

Forty BSP MLAs had joined the ruling Samajwadi Party in September, 2003. After a February 28, 2006 High Court decision, the speaker was asked to dispose off their case within two weeks following which he received petitions from BSP and rebel MLAs.

While the Speaker gave the interim order today, he would begin hearing the case from March 11.

Addressing reporters after meeting the governor, Mr Maurya claimed his party had sought the dismissal of UP government on two grounds.

''One, it is a minority government after the HC judgement has clarified that the rebel MLAs now once again belong to BSP.

''Two, the government failed to prevent communal violence in Lucknow and blasts in Varanasi. A total of 35 people have died in these incidents, while another 150 were wounded...to defend its existence, the government is playing with the lives of the innocent,'' he alleged.

However, the memorandum handed over to the Governor does not mention the law and order problem.

A BJP delegation comprising party MLAs and MLCs also demanded ouster of the UP government for failing to prevent loss of innocent lives.

UNI NAB VS VD ND1732