UP Opposition condemns police action on students

Lucknow, Jan 9 (UNI) The opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh today condemned the police action on students in the state capital yesterday.

''Had the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government been alert, the scuffle between students and police could have been prevented,'' UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said.

The mob was demanding reinstating of students union polls and unemployment allowance. ''Lathicharging and firing at students cannot not be the decision of any government, who believes in democracy,'' she underlined.

Ms Joshi further demanded a judicial probe into the entire episode.

The BJP also criticised the batoncharge on the students.

BJP state vice-president and spokesperson Hridaya Narayan Dixit noted that the unnecessary battle between BSP and Principal Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) is a ''danger to democracy.'' Reproaching the BSP regime, CPI(M) state secretary charged that UP, at present, is haunted by the ''autocratic leadership'' of Chief Minister Mayawati.

''The police action on students fighting for their democratic rights cannot be tolerated,'' he underlined.

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