UDF demands President's rule in UP

Allahabad, Nov 10 (UNI) United Democratic Front (UDF) today demanded President rule in Uttar Pradesh before the 2007 assembly election.

Talking to newspersons here, UDF Parliamentary Board chairman Mahboob Ahmad said free and fair assembly election in the current Samajwadi Party government was not possible.

''The present regime in UP has failed to discharge its duty in ensuring a fair and free local bodies election. The same may happen again in the assembly election.'' He informed UDF had decided to field candidates on 200 assembly seats in the next assembly poll and on remaining seats make electoral arrangement with ''like-minded parties.'' The party has also decided to allot 25 per cent tickets to the youth.

Further, Mr Ahmad alleged rampant booth capturing and tampering of ballot boxes in the recently held UP civic poll. ''Violence, including hurling of bombs and firing to prevent bona fide voters to cast their votes, was witnessed on large scale in the poll.'' He claimed Muslim female voters were worst sufferers as they could not cast their vote due to violence.

''Muslims are now determined to play effective role in governance of the country, because in the last 60 yrs of independence the passive role of the community in government formation has only resulted in corruption, nepotism and criminalisation.'' UNI JL VS SHB MIR RAI2004