Congress workers burn Minister's effigy

Chhindwara, MP, Jun 14 (UNI) Hundreds of Congress workers led by former Madhya Pradesh Minister Deepak Saxena today staged a demonstration to protest against state Public Health Engineering Minister Chaudhary Chandrabhan Singh's alleged remarks against Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Congress workers shouted slogans against Mr Singh and burnt his effigy. The workers also had a scuffle with Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers near the residence of Mr Singh and police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd.

Mr Saxena also met Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ishwardas Roahni, who was here to take part in a programme, and complained about the matter.

District Congress Committee President Gangaram Tiwari told reporters here that police canecharged and injured Congress workers without any reason. A Congress worker was seriously injured and sent to Nagpur.

In a statement here today, Mr Singh denied he had made any objectionable comment related to beef against Ms Gandhi. His statement was twisted out of context by media, he alleged.

He said he had referred to the cow slaughter and Conservation Act not being given approval by the Centre. Besides, he had described export of beef from the country as objectionable.

UNI XC-PS RJ HT2332