Civic violence casts doubts about free UP poll in UP: Cong

New Delhi, Nov 1 (UNI) The Congress party today blamed the Mulayam Singh government for the violence, rigging and bogus voting in the second phase of civic polls in Uttar Pradesh, and expressed doubts about the possibility of a free and fair elections to the state assembly in the next few months.

"If the events of yesterday are a precursor and lawlessness allowed at the magnified form in the state assembly elections, it will be a mockery of free and fair elections to the state assembly," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons, while referring to the violent incidents in which about 60 persons were injured in the second phase of polls to civic bodies. About 60 per cent of the total of 9.1 million electorate exercised their franchise yesterday to elect 11 mayors and 900 corporators.

He said the lawlessness that prevailed in Uttar Pradesh yesterday was nothing but a commom feature of governance or lack of governance under the Samajwadi Party.

"Polling to local bodies gives a fair idea of what is in store in the larger area of assembly elections in the next few months," he said, pointing out that the anarchy yesterday had created an inevitable feeling that the ruling party sought to demonstrate its money and muscle power.

"However, those who believe in money and muscle power and those who worship the creed of casteism and divisive politics will soon realise that the pubic has seen through their hypocrisy," he said in a clear indictment of the ruling Samajwadi Party.

Saying that "these are the same people who shed crocodile tears in the name of minorities and aam aadmi (common man)," Dr Singhvi claimed the victims of yesterday's lawlessness were the vulnerable sections of the society who suffered losses to their property.

In this context, the spokesman said "what we had seen yesterday was only a trailer of what is likely to be a full length film in the forthcoming assembly assembly elections." Asked what action do the Congress Party propose to take, Dr Singhvi said 'We want a change of government in Uttar Pradesh... we want a better governance and law and order...this is not going to happen as long as the Samajwadi Party is in power." Asked if the Congress Party would withdraw its support to the Mulayam Singh government, he said "we ask the people of Uttar Pradesh to throw out the government which does not govern.' In this context, he explained that the Congress Party's support was only conditional and on specific issues. "However, the arithmatic of Uttar Pradesh for the last several years is irrespective of the Congress support." "The issue now is law and order and not our support... we are not under any pressure," he said.

Asked if the Congress Party had better prospects in the ongoing civic polls, Dr Singhvi said it would be known within the next few days. "That is not the point. The case in point is the effect of violence on the vulnerable sections of the society like minorities." UNI SH/YS LS BS1808