Opposition corners BSP over Governor's controversial statement

Lucknow, May 21(UNI) The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was today cornered by the opposition on the first sitting of the 15th Uttar Pradesh Assembly over a constroversial statement in the governor's address.

As the house reassembled after Governor T V Rajeswar's address to the joint session of the state legislature, opposition members particularly the Samajwadi Party leaders pointed out the ''serious lapses'' in the address.

Pointing towards a line in the third para of the opening page of the address, SP deputy leader Mohammad Azam Khan said it was unfortunate that the governor had read ''the people's verdict was ridiculed by forming an unconstitutional government after splitting political parties''.

Mr Khan asked how could the governor say so when he himself was the constitutional head of the state and the appointing authority of any democratic government.

Demanding removal of the para from the text, the SP leader said such a thing will only ''hurt the constitution of the country''.

However, state parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma said there was nothing unconsitutional in the address and there was no need for any editing of the text.

When some members of the treasury bench said the Supreme Court had already made some harsh comments on the previous government about its formation in connection with the split in the BSP, the SP members objected to it, saying the SC had never said the government was unconstitutionally formed.

The matter was raised by BJP deputy leader Hukum Singh who also demanded an explanation from the government on the governor's statement.

Speaker Suhkdeo Rajbhar said the issue can be raised by the members during the motion of thanks on the governor's address starting from tomorrow.

UNI