Mulayam's appeal to religious heads against damaging law and order

Sultanpur, Feb 2 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today advised religious heads to confine themselves with 'Ramayan' and 'Kuran', rather than creating law and order problems in the name of religion.

Referring to the recent Gorakhpur communal flare-up that claimed two lives, Mr Yadav appealed to the saints and religious figures not to indulge in politics and damage the law and order fabric.

He said the Gorakhpur incident was being investigated. ''SP never indulged in politics of religion and caste, that is why the party gets support from all sections of society...Muslims are with SP like always.'' Commenting of the spat between SP general secretary Beni Prasad Verma and UP Labour Minister Waqar Ahmad Shah, the Chief Minister obseved Mr Verma cared little about the dignity of his status and went public with his allegations.

He suggested Mr Verma to sort out such issues within the party.

In reply to another question, Mr Yadav claimed the next UP assembly would be formed by May 14, 2007.

He was here on a personal visit.

UNI