HP BJP seeks President's protection from Cong, cops
Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Himachal Pradesh unit and Himachal Vikas Congress chief Sukh Ram today called on President K R Narayanan and sought adequate protection to all BJP and HVC MLAs so that they can attend the state assembly ''without being harassed by the HP police and Congressmen''.
In a memorandum submitted to the President, they recalled the events following the declaration of the assembly results, when they put a claim before Governor V S Rama Devi that they commanded a majority, with the support of four HVC legislators and one Independent MLA.
They said the governor later told them that she was ''fully satisfied'' that the HVC MLAs were supporting the BJP.
''We are surprised to hear that the governor had invited the Congress to form the government on the plea that it was the single largest party. This fact was known from the very first day and there was no need for parading the HVC MLAs before the governor,'' they said in the memorandum.
The memorandum alleged that on the night of March 5, five BJP MLAs -- Rakesh Pathania, Rajan Sushant, R R Kondal, Baldeve Sharma and Narendra Bargata -- were ''assaulted'' by Congress activists at Shimla.
''We do not have any faith in the Himachal police and the administration. Therefore, central forces protection should be provided to all BJP and HVC MLAs so that the MLAs could attend the assembly without being harassed by police and Congressmen,'' signatories of the memorandum said.
They also wanted the President to use his good office and ask the governor to direct the chief minister to seek a confidence vote on the very first day when the MLAs take oath. No other agenda should to taken up till the result was known, they said.
The signatories are Shanta Kumar and Sureh Chandel (both MPs), Sukh Ram, and BJP legislature party leader Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Briefing newspersons later, Dhumal alleged that the Congress was ''misusing the official machinery and police to pressure MLAs to support it.''
UNI
Elections '98
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