Congress demands President's rule ahead UP Assembly polls

Jaunpur, Feb 23 (UNI) The Congress today reiterated its demand for imposition of President's rule in Uttar Pradesh to prevent large scale rigging in the coming Assembly elections.

''Now is the time for imposing President's rule in UP as the Election Commission has announced the election dates,'' former UP Congress Committee (UPCC) president Arun Kumar Singh (Munna) said while addressing a press conference here.

Castigating the state government, Mr Singh alleged ''UP government ought to be dismissed soon as free and fair Assembly polls are completely impossible under the rule of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav'' Mr Singh alleged Mulayam Singh is ''hungry'' for power and ''he can do anything...to regain power''.

''Even people of the state have realised the fact...and therefore, want the imposition of President's rule in UP as early as possible'', Mr Singh claimed.

Expressing concern over the ''dismal'' law and order situation in UP, he alleged ''over the years crime has increased. No one is secure in UP. The terror of mafias haunt the state.'' He further demanded that the Election Commission should transfer the officials who are ''close'' to the present regime.

UNI