BJP demands Mayawati's resignation over Dalit farmer's death

Lucknow, Jun 26 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded resignation of Chief Minister Mayawati on moral grounds over the death of a Dalit landless farmer in Kushinagar district yesterday due to police and revenue officials atrocities.

The BJP also demanded compensation of Rs 5 lakh and a government job for the deceased's family.

Besides, the party demanded registration of a murder case against police over the death of Bandhu Prasad (65) in police custody.

State BJP vice-president Surya Pratap Sahi here told mediapersons that Bandu Prasad was torchured by police when he sat on a hunger strike in front of Barwapatti police station in Kushinagar along with his family members. The Dalit family was demanding eviction of the people, who had encroached their land.

Mr Sahi said on the night of June 24, police took away Bandhu saying he would be hospitalised. But he died in the police jeep, raising suspicion on the role of police.

The BJP leader further alleged that some Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders of the area also took money from Bandhu to get his land free from the clutches of the criminals. But they also did nothing.

Meanwhile, Mr Sahi, former state minister, criticised the BSP government in the state for its insensitivenes as three ministers, Swami Prasad Maurya, Nasseemuddin Siddiqui and Ramachal Rajbhar, were present in the region today, but no one went to meet the family members of Bandhu to console the Dalit family.

UNI MB JAS AE RK1748