SEC rejects Mulayam's offer of sops for cops

Lucknow, Oct 21: Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC), holding the urban local bodies polls, has refused to permit Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to announce sops for the policemen during the annual Martyrs day.

Mr Yadav, who was the chief guest on the parade to condole the deaths of the policemen today, said he wanted to announce some benefits for the policemen on Diwali as a mark of their sacrifice for the society but SEC did not allowed it.

''I persuaded them to permit me to announce some benefits but the SEC refused to do so this morning'', he added.

Addressing a gathering, Mr Yadav said his government is determined to provide all possible help to the families of policemen who laid down their lives and assured that it would be announced soon after the urban local bodies poll in the first week of November.

Earlier, SEC had to ban holding of functions to distribute unemployment allowances and Kanyavidyadhan cheques in different parts of the state by the chief minister following objection by the state governor.

The urban local bodies elections in the state is slated to be held on October 28, 31 and November 3.

Reports said the state government was expected to announce free medical facilities to the families of the policemen and hike in their daily allowances.

According to statistics, 136 policemen from Uttar Pradesh have lost their lives between September 2005 to August 2006.

UNI