BSP, SP in war of words over charges agst Raghuraj in cop case

NEW DELHI: BSP and SP today sparred over the allegation against UP Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya in the murder of a police officer with Mayawati demanding clamping of President's Rule in the state.

DSP Zia-ul-Haq was killed by a mob in Pratapgarh on Saturday when he had rushed there after a village head was shot dead over a land dispute. The slain officer's wife had accused Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bhaiya, who has since resigned from the State Cabinet, for the attack.

"There is jungleraj and 'goondaraj' in UP. I had earlier also demanded President's Rule in UP. When police officers are not safe, how will common people feel safe. Centre should take initiative to clamp President's Rule," the BSP chief told reporters outside Parliament.

Reacting to the charges, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "Mayawati's saying this is unnecessary. It is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black."

He also cited various criminal cases involving BSP MPs and MLAs during the BSP rule.

Commenting on Maywati's demand for President's Rule in the state, senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, "She is free to say whatever she likes. Everybody knows what happened duing her rule in Uttar Pradesh. I have never taken any allegation by Mayawati seriously and will not do so in future also."

"In her rule, one minister had killed an executive engineer for not giving money for Mayawati's birthday and there are several such examples during here rule," he alleged.