U.P. Govt. to withdraw controversial Bill

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, OCT. 18.The State Cabinet today retracted its steps on two important issues indicating the vulnerability of the Ram Prakash Gupta Government. The Cabinet decided to repeal the controversial Religious Places Bill which the opposition had described as a blatant anti-minority step. The bill as passed by the State Legislature had been sent by the Governor, Mr. Suraj Bhan, to the President for his assent. Since then it was lying there.

In its wisdom, the Government has decided to repeal the bill to send favourable signals to the minorities. The new BJP President, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, has urged the party to take positive steps to woo the minorities and the State Government's move seems to be positive.

The Cabinet also decided to accept the dates for the urban local bodies elections as suggested by the State Election Commissioner, Mr. Yashpal Singh. Mr. Singh had announced November 20 and 23 as the dates on which the polls for local bodies would be held. The Cabinet at its last meeting, however, fixed November 20 and 24 as the respective dates taking exception to the Election Commission decision to unilaterally decide the election schedule.

The Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Lalji Tandon, took the Cabinet decision as an attempt by the Chief Minister, Mr. Ram Prakash Gupta, to let him down. He said that the State Election Commissioner had consulted him before finalising the dates and consultation with him meant consulting the Government. The Cabinet at its meeting today approved the dates as finalised by the Commission.

The State Legislature, with its present composition, will be having its last six-day session beginning tomorrow (Thursday). As the State of Uttaranchal, comprising the hill areas of U.P., comes into existence next month, the U.P. Assembly would lose its 22 members and the Council eight members to the new State. The session would thus bid adieu to its members before they prepare to constitute the Assembly of Uttaranchal.

The session commencing tomorrow would pass various bills relating to ordinances promulgated since the last session of the Legislature and would also pass a supplementary budget.

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Section  : Other States
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