The Hindu : National : Congress seeks action against Lalji Tandon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 15, 2004

National

National

Congress seeks action against Lalji Tandon

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, APRIL 14. The Congress has demanded action against the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Lalji Tandon, for his "complicity" in the stampede that took place at a function organised to celebrate his birthday here on Monday.

"The death of 22 women in the tragedy was mass murder. Mr. Tandon must be held responsible for this and action taken against him," the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee, Sanjay Singh, said at a press conference in the party office today.

Mr. Singh alleged that the function was organised under the supervision of Mr. Tandon and he could not escape responsibility saying he was only a guest at the function organised by somebody else. "That the function was organised to allure poor women by gifting them saris was a corrupt electoral practice and the Congress will continue to demand that the Election Commission take necessary action in view of the facts of the case."

The Congress leader also criticised the State Government saying that instead of bringing the culprits to book, it made all efforts to `hush up the case.'

The All-India Progressive Women's Association, under the leadership of its State secretary, Ajanta Lohit, observed a `Dhikkar Divas' today to condemn the BJP for its "heinous crime."

"Such incidents are a blot on democracy and expose the feudal tendencies of the BJP, which tried to exploit poverty for electoral gains," speakers participating in the demonstration said. They demanded the arrest of Mr. Tandon, adding that the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, must be disqualified from contesting the elections.

The former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Kalyan Singh, defended Mr. Tandon, saying that there was no reason to blame him.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National