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I'll not withdraw POTA against MLA: Mayawati

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW JAN. 27. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, today refused to succumb to BJP leaders' pressure to withdraw charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against the independent MLA, Raghuraj Pratap Singh (Raja Bhaiya), and his father, Uday Pratap Singh.

Talking to reporters at her residence here, she said: "Raja Bhaiya aur uske bap ke upar se POTA nahin hataya jayega, meri Sarkar bhale hi chali jaye'' ("POTA will not be lifted on Raja Bhaiya and his father, no matter whether my Government remains in office").

Strongly defending the action taken against the family of the former ruler of the Kunda estate in Pratapgarh district, Ms. Mayawati expressed apprehension that the father-son duo could be in league with the agents of Pakistan's ISI as evidenced by a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives, including weapons of foreign-make, recovered from their house. The slapping of POTA had followed reliable intelligence reports that they had conspired to kill her at Republic Day celebrations when she was to remain in the public for a considerable time. Uday Pratap Singh, in his statement before the police after his arrest on January 25, had given details of his plans.

Had they succeeded in their attempts to kill her, caste riots would have taken place in large areas of the country. And that could have had dangerous consequences. She was all praise for the intelligence and police agencies for taking action against the family of Raja Bhaiya, saying they had prevented a dangerous crime. It was only because of their efforts that Republic Day in Lucknow had passed off peacefully.

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