Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123053730400.htm

New Delhi

Demand to dismiss U.P. government

Staff Reporter

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan submits memorandum to the President

NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here on Monday demanding that the Bahujan Samaj Party government in Uttar Pradesh be immediately dismissed and President’s Rule imposed there in the wake of the killing of Public Works Department engineer M. K. Gupta.

The protesters also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Mayawati.

In a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil, LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan said it was “most shameful that a BSP MLA committed the gruesome murder while trying to collect donations for celebrating the birthday of Chief Minister Mayawati”.

“Such a barbaric act has no place in a civilised society,” he added.

Alleging that every year on Ms. Mayawati’s birthday crores of rupees were extorted from people, Mr. Paswan said criminals were ruling in Mayawati’s regime and more criminals were included in her fold every day.

Mr. Paswan demanded an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the murders of Mr. Gupta and Yuva Lok Janshakti Party (Agra) president Manish Yadav to “expose the role of elected representatives and their extortion rackets in the name of celebrating the birthday of Chief Minister Mayawati”.

He also demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved families.