BSP to petition President if centre fails to impose Art 356 in UP

Lucknow, Feb 21 (UNI) The BSP today threatened to move the President if the Centre failed to impose central rule in Uttar Pradesh in wake of Supreme Court judgement disqualifying 13 MLAs, who had deserted the party to join Samajwadi Party.

BSP general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Satish Mishra said here that party president Mayawati had decided if the Centre delays decision to clamp Aticle 356 in UP, the party would meet the President and seek his direct intervention.

Mr Mishra also warned assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey of a possible contempt of the Supreme Court, if he delayed disqualifying a total of 37 MLAs. ''He has disqualified 13 MLAs...now he claims that the fate of 24 remaning MLAs would be decided after he gets a certified copy of the SC ruling. One wonders how he could disqualify 13 MLAs without a certified copy of the judgement.'' The BSP today submitted a certified copy of the SC ruling to the speaker ''to enable him take a quick decision on the issue.'' Mr Mishra also demanded the speaker to issue a new list of the assembly members at the earliest after the SC ruling. ''The Speaker will have to show the present status of the remaning 24 MLAs...either they have to be with BSP or be treated otherwise. It is mandatory the list is published without further delay.'' The speaker, meanwhile, was not available for comments.

UNI