Mayawati urges EC to ban Amit Shah from campaigning in UP

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati Monday said BJP general secretary Amit Shah's remarks that Azamgarh was a haven for terrorist were "baseless" and urged the poll panel to ban his poll campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.

At a rally in Azamgarh Sunday, Shah alleged that most terrorists were from Azamgarh.

Speaking to reporters here, Mayawati, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, urged the Election Commission to take note of Shah's statements and ban his election campaigning in the state.

"In view of such a communally sensitive, baseless and mischievous statement, I urge the poll panel to ban Shah from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh," she said, adding that Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and some Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders were trying to disturb communal harmony in the state.

She also called for a ban on SP leader Abu Azmi, who had a few days back said a DNA test should be conducted on the Muslims who do not vote for SP.

The BSP chief called for enhanced security in the state's remaining constituencies where the election is to be held, specially in Azamgarh, where SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is pitted against BJP's Ramakant Yadav.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too criticised Shah for his remarks and said stringent action should be initiated by the poll panel against him.

"...the poll panel must ensure that he stops such efforts that could lead to communal tensions," the chief minister said.