K'taka: Cong demands deployment of Central forces

Mysore, Nov 25: Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes and former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojari today demanded deployment of central forces to control the law and order situation in the Chamundeswari Assembly constituency, going to the polls on December four.

Addressing media persons here, Mr Fernandes said that yesterday's incident in which Congress MLC Mallajamma was gheraoed by Janata Dal (S) workers while canvassing at Dasana Koppal warranted deployment of central forces. ''That party is trying to curtail the freedom of speech, freedom of movement and freedom of campaign of the candidates.'' Earlier, Mr Fernandes met former Union Minister V Sreenivasa Prasad and scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar and requested them to campaign for Congress candidate Siddaramaiah.

In a separate press conference here, Mr Poojari urged the Election Commission to take necessary steps to prevent any further incident and expressed doubts about the conduct of free and fair election. Yesterday's incident was an unfortunate one, he added, accusing the ruling party of attempting to create fear among the voters.

Meanwhile, Congress stalwarts, including Union Ministers M H Ambareesh, K H Muniyappa and M V Rajashekharan, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan visited various villages in the constituency seeking votes for the party candidate.

UNI