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No restrictions on Mayawati, says Punjab CM

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH JUNE 24. The Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, today denied issuing any instructions to impose a ban on entry of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Mayawati, whose Bahujan Samaj Party plans to organise a rally in Jalandhar to protest "discrimination" against Dalits in Talhan village recently.

Talking to presspersons after chairing a meeting of his Council of Ministers, Mr. Singh said that there were no restrictions on the movement of any leader, particularly for Ms. Mayawati, whom he held in high esteem or against any other leader. She was free to visit Talhan and Buta Mandi of Jalandhar district, which witnessed caste-based violence early this month.However, he once again appealed to Ms. Mayawati to prevail on her party set-up in Punjab to postpone the rally for some time. Defending the visit by a team of senior Congress leaders to Talhan, he said the party did not organise any rally in the area.However, responding to questions, Mr. Singh his government would not allow any political or other organisations to violate the provisions of section 144 of the Cr.P.C., which had been imposed in the sensitive areas.The BSP would not be allowed to organise any rally or procession in Talhan village and Buta Mandi.

He cautioned Ms. Mayawati against the "designs of certain mischievous elements", who might want to utilise the occasion ignite the passions of the people.

It was due to such interests that Punjab suffered immensely due to terrorism.

The Chief Minister said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was free to send its team to Punjab to assess the situation following complaints by the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Parkash Singh Badal.

The Government had no plans to arrest Mr. Badal.

The evidence collected against the Akali leader would be duly presented before a court of law.

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