Oppn leader stages 'dharna' outside CM's residence

Bhopal, Apr 5 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Opposition Leader Jamuna Devi today sat on a 'dharna' in front of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence over not being allowed to meet him to discuss the problems of those affected due to communal disturbance at Narsinghgarh town in Ragjarh district.

Ms Devi told reporters here that she had telephoned Mr Chouhan and sought time for discussing the matter but he refused citing his tight schedule.

She said more than a dozen people led by Narsinghgarh's 'Shahar Qazi' met her today morning and complained of police excesses on affected people.

Ms Devi said she had sought time to make the CM aware of the facts.

The Congress leader held Mr Chouhan responsible for increasing incidents of communal violence in the state. She said minorities and affected people were being harassed despite these incidents.

The Qazi Ayub Siddiqui said miscreants had torched more than 80 shops during communal violence in Narsinghgarh town on April 1.

He alleged that police were arresting people belonging to minority community.

Ms Devi demanded Rs five lakh as compensation for affected people, new shops for those whose shops were burnt and strict action against those found guilty for the incident.

She said she would continue her 'dharna' until Mr Chouhan met him in this regard.

Later, she ended her 'dharna' when Mr Chouhan met her and assured that strict action would be taken against the culprits.

He said the Bhopal Divisional Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police (Narsinghgarh range) were camping in Narsinghgarh and claimed the situation was completely under control.

People from Narsinghgarh also discussed the matter with Mr Chouhan.

UNI