UP controversial Independent MLA alleges BJP plan to eliminate him

Lucknow, Mar 12 (UNI) Controversial Independent MLA from Mau Mukhtar Ansari and an accused in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai today alleged the BJP is planning to eliminate him on the Vidhan Bhawan premises.

Ansari raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, which met here after a long break. He claimed that he could be killed on the Vidhan Bhawan premises. The legislator also referred to the recent arrest of one Raju Tiwari on December 18, 2006, and his reported confession that he had gone to shoot the MLA inside the room of state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Azam Khan.

Ansari claimed that several BJP leaders were behind the plot. He said killers could use police uniforms to carry out the killing.

Police escorts Ansari in a Vajra riot vehicle from jail to enable him attend the House proceedings.

He also demanded a probe by the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police into the conspiracy.

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said security would be spruced up in the Vidhan Bhawan building.

Meanwhile, leader of the House and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said the matter was serious and assured of a probe by the STF.

Ansari was recently acquitted in a case of inciting communal violence in an eastern Uttar Pradesh town due to lack of substantial evidence.

The acquittal was granted by a Sessions' Court in Mau district.

Ansari was accused of opening fire at a Dussehra procession, killing a local trader Vijay Prakash and igniting a ''riot-like'' scene that left seven people dead and several injured.

According to CBI, on October 25, 2005, while surrendering in the Ghazipur Court, Ansari and his kin Afzal Ansari had allegedly instructed Sanjiv Maheshwari and associates to kill Krishnanand Rai, their political rival.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Krishnanand Rai was shot at and killed by Munna Bajrangi, Ata-ur-Rehman, Firdaus, Azaz, Sanjiv Maheshwari alias Jeeva and others, the CBI investigation has revealed.

UNI