Cong delegation demands more security for party''s Banda MLA

Lucknow, Jan 17 (PTI) A Congress delegation today soughtthe intervention of Uttar Pradesh Governor B L Joshi inensuring more security to party''s Banda Sadar MLA Vivek Singh,who it claimed has been getting threats for highlighting theDalit girl rape case.

It also demanded restoration of protocol for the unionministers, "curtailed" recently by the state government.

A delegation led by UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshimet the Governor and submitted separate memorandums on the twoissues.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Joshi said theGovernor has been apprised as to how Vivek Singh had beengetting death threats and despite a request to Chief MinisterMayawati his security has not been increased.

"The arrested BSP MLA, Purshottam Naresh Dwivedi hasopenly threatened to avenge the humiliation and it is the dutyof the state government to ensure proper security of VivekSingh," Joshi said, adding that the Governor has beenrequested to direct the state government in this regard.

The state Congress chief said that curtailment ofprotocol of union ministers visiting the state was also raisedduring the meeting.

"The state government is working in an arbitrary mannerand acting against the constitutional traditions," shealleged.

She also claimed that Minister of state for petroleum,Jitin Prasad and Chairman of SC commission P L Punia weredenied protocol by the state government.