Jharkhand Speaker's residence gheraoed

Ranchi, Sep 10 (UNI) With the hearing of the three legislators, who were served defection notices by Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, concluding tomorrow, the Opposition UPA activists gheraoed his residence here today.

Tomorrow, the Supreme Court would hear the petition filed by three MLAs urging the Speaker to restrain from proceeding with the petitions pending against them and seeking their disqualification.

As part of their stepped up stir, the UPA, while calling off the proposed Jharkhand bandh earlier scheduled for tomorrow, would instead gherao the state Assembly.

Today at 1100 hrs, about 150 UPA activists gathered the Kanke Road residence of Mr Namdhari here and shouted slogans for a brief period.

City Superintendent of Police Akhilesh K.Jha told UNI that no arrest was made and the demonstration went off peacefully.

On September eight, the UPA took to the streets and burnt the Speaker in effigy.

The Speaker on September seven issued notices to three MLAs, including two National Democratic Alliance rebels, threatening to disqualify them for crossing over to the United Progressive Alliance.

The Speaker asked Anos Ekka, Kamlesh Singh (both rebel ministers) and Stephen Marandi (Ind) to explain on September 11, three days ahead of the September 14-floor test of the Arjun Munda government in the Assembly, why their memberships should not be quashed.

The petitioners on behalf of the three also sought the status quo on their membership of the assembly till the floor test was over.

Four Ministers of the Arjun Munda Cabinet had resigned on September five precipitating a crisis for the government. On request of the Chief Minister, the Governor allowed a trial of strength by September 15. The Munda cabinet took a decision to seek vote of confidence on September 14.

Following this, some BJP MLAs moved the petition before the Speaker seeking disqualification of the rebels under the Anti- Defection law.

UNI PRS JYN PK BS1603