BSP, Cong seek sack of SP govt over rigging remarks by minister

Lucknow, Jan 25 (UNI) The Opposition BSP and Congress today sought the dismissal of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh over the remarks by a senior minister on poll rigging.

Representatives of the two parties met Governor T V Rajeswar at Raj Bhawan this evening and handed him over separate memoranda in this regard.

Earlier in the day, the entire opposition, including BJP, BSP, Congress and RLD, created a furore in the legislative assembly over the remarks of senior SP leader and state transport minister Naresh Agarwal.

Mr Agarwal had said in the house yesterday: ''Sarkar pe nikay chunav ke doran, dhandli ke arop lag rahe hain...agar mein mananiya mukhya mantri ki jagah hota to dhandli kar ke dihkata (there have been allegations of rigging on the ruling party during the local urban body elections...had I been there instead of the CM, I would have carried out rigging, as being charged by the opposition).'' State Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan said the remarks by the minister were being taken out of context as the leader of the house (the CM) has already clarified on the issue yesterday itself.

Unsatisfied, the Opposition also boycotted the voting on the motion of thanks on the governor's address.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari said the remarks by the minister indicated the design of the SP government to rig the assembly election due shortly.

''Any remarks by a minister is considered the collective responsibility of the council of ministers...the CM neither punished the minister nor did he sought an apology. This shows the ruling party is serious about rigging assembly election too,'' he added.

UNI