Date:11/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/11/stories/2003051103040800.htm

National

Mayawati Govt. bid to foil SP rally alleged

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi May 10. The Samajwadi Party today accused the Mayawati Government of hatching a conspiracy with the connivance of its ally, the BJP, to foil its protest rally at Lucknow on May 12.

According to the party general secretary, Amar Singh, the Uttar Pradesh administration was preparing to arrest senior leaders of the party on false charges on the day of the rally.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Singh said the BPJ, which is reduced to being a third force in U.P. behind the BSP and the Samajwadi Party, had joined hands with its ally in harassing party workers to foil the rally which was a culmination of the cycle rallies organised in the State through the last month against the "misrule'' of the Mayawati Government. The matter had also been raised in the Lok Sabha by the SP members, he said.

Mr Singh alleged that 8,000 to 10,000 party workers and leaders had been arrested in the last few days. The Badayun MLA, Salim Sherwani, was warned by the local police not to attend the rally. Vehicles belonging to party workers were being seized to prevent their free movement, he alleged.

Answering questions, he said the stand of the Congress towards his party in Uttar Pradesh had been "constructive''.

On the proposed National Judicial Commission Bill, he said the Samajwadi Party was opposed to the concept of appointment and transfer of judges through such a commission.

"If that were to happen, it would impinge on the sovereignty of the judges,'' he said.