Press Trust of India Posted online: Saturday, January 08, 2005 at 1722 hours IST Updated: Saturday, January 08, 2005 at 1723 hours IST
Lucknow, January 8: Claiming that the issuance of notice by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court to 40 former BSP MLAs, who had merged their breakaway group with the Samajwadi Party, had "shaken the very foundation" of the state government, the Congress on Saturday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on moral grounds.
Since the Yadav-led coalition government had been formed on the basis of the list containing names of these 40 MLAs, the court's decision to admit the petition challenging their defection has shaken its very foundation, UPCC vice President Satyadeo Tripathi told reporters here.
He said Yadav should resign forthwith on moral grounds without "wasting a minute". Tripathi also urged the governor T V Rajeswar to ask the government to desist from taking policy decisions as its continuance in power was in question. "The governor should direct the Yadav government to desist from taking policy decisions and also not allow the members of the state development council to visit abroad," he said. On whether his party, which was extending outside support to the government, would consider withdrawing its support, Tripathi said it is no longer relevant but refused to elaborate. The UPCC leader also took strong exception to 'saifai mahotsav' beginning on Saturday, saying that at a time when the country was busy extending all help to the tsunami victims, a huge amount of money was being spent on such a festival.
Tripathi also alleged that the state government was resorting to terror tactics in the forthcoming panchayat polls. "One Congress worker was shot dead in Budaon district today during filing of nomination papers and another was seriously injured," he alleged.
Tripathi said that his party had extended support to the government to prevent the communal forces from assuming power but Yadav had "failed" in his job.
