Oppn walkout over rigging of cooperative poll

Bhopal, Feb 23 (UNI) The opposition Congress and CPI-M members today staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, alleging government inaction in arresting a BJP leader involved in rigging cooperative polls in Bhind district.

The opposition members were not satisifed with Cooperation Minister Gopal Bhargav's assurance that BJP leader Ambarish Sharma would be arrested though the entire police force of the district could not locate him so far.

Dr Govind Singh(Cong), who along with Mr Ramlakhan Sharma (CPI-M) and Mr Sajjan Singh Verma(Cong) moved a call attention notice on the issue, pointed out that the wanted criminal could not be arrested by the police though he had addressed a press conference.

Dr Singh alleged that at least 19 officers deployed on poll duty were abducted by BJP leaders at gun point as part of rigging the elections.

The opposition members were not satisfied with Mr Bhargav's contention that the accused were not identified in the FIRs. They also alleged that the Sub-Divisional Officer (Police) and the Town Inspector were patronising the wanted criminal and sought record of their telephone conversations.

On the other hand, Mr Bhargava claimed cooperative elections were held for the first time in a transparent manner. Elections of 86 cooperative bodies, including 19 in Bhind district, were cancelled due to irregularities, he said.

UNI