Sibal faces workers' ire in Allahabad

Allahabad/Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Angry Congress workers, agitated over the reported denial of a ticket to a senior party leader, today raised anti-party slogans and indulged in violence in Allahabad in the presence of Union Minister Kapil Sibal.

A section of the workers was angry at the party's reported decision against fielding UPCC media cell chairman Ashok Bajpai from Allahabad (North). They indulged in violence, damaged chairs and windows of the community hall where the Union minister, who is also convener of AICC media management, was to release the party's manifesto.

Congress leaders said the recent decision to induct Anugrah Narain Singh into the party fold from Allahabad (North) had led to speculation that Mr Bajpai would not be given a ticket.

Mr Sibal had to postpone his press conference twice as the slogans raising workers entered he community hall and disturbed the proceedings. The protestors banged at the doors of the room where Mr Sibal was sitting and indulged in scuffles with other partymen.

The supporters of Mr Bajpai also sat on a fast in front of Anand Bhawan, the ancestral house of the Nehrus.

Reacting to the developments, Mr Sibal said violence had no place in the Congress and ''whatever happened was painful.'' In the state capital, senior party leaders reacted sharply to the developments and said instead of helping the Union minister spread the message of the party through the manifesto, a section of the workers embarrassed the UPCC before a representative of the AICC.

UNI