Mulayam tells governor to show 'restraint'

The ongoing war of words between UP Governor TV Rajeswar and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav seems to be degenerating to new levels.

While the governor, in his address to top police officers today, said "kidnapping industry" was thriving in UP, Singh accused the governor of being partial and asked him to observe restraint.

The governor, whose comments on the state's law and order situation have caused discomfiture to the government on many occasions in the past, was harsh on the state police too.

He said he had received more than 1,000 complaints against policemen in the recent civic polls. He said over 350 licences for carbine, a prohibited weapon, had been issued by the state government.

"The governor is interfering in day-to-day administration. Those expecting impartial conduct from others should also prove that they are impartial," Singh shot back.

"The governor may have received over a thousand complaints against the conduct of the police force but all of them may not be true," he said.

"There could be some isolated cases of policemen committing irregularities and my government is willing to take action if given specific instances," Singh said at a press conference here today.

"The governor has, in the past, indulged himself too much in making unsavoury comments on the government's actions and it does not bode well for the post he is holding, he said.

Singh advised the governor not to be "misled by disinformation" campaign of the Congress and BJP, who he said "are out to damage the reputation of Samajwadi Party-led government in UP."

Incidentally, this happened on a day when Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy is in town to review preparedness for the Assembly polls.

The Opposition parties, which met the CEC today, told him that free and fair polls were not possible under the Samajwadi Party government.

The parties urged the CEC to conduct the polls under stringent monitoring and with the help of only central paramilitary forces.

The Bahujan Samaj Party and Bharatiya Janata Party demanded elections under the President's rule, but the Congress said the polls should be held under the strict supervision of the EC and central forces.