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Two independent MLAs arrested in UP

Bundela, who was one of the dissident BJP MLAs who had met Governor Vishnukant Shastri and demanded convening of a special session of the assembly for a trial of strength, had on Saturday met Katiyar and reaffirmed his faith in the BJP leadership.

He had also denied having anything to do with the activities of dissident BJP MLAs.

Senior Superintendent of Police Anil Agarwal told PTI that Bundela had lodged a report with the police charging them with threatening him of dire consequences if he did not return to the dissident fold.

Bundela alleged that Dhananjay Singh and his supporters intercepted his car on Saturday near Meera Bai Marg while he was on the way to his residence after meeting state BJP president Vinay Katiyar.

Dhananjay Singh threatened him of dire consequences if he left the ranks of the dissidents and expressed his loyalty to the state BJP leadership, he alleged.

He also alleged that later both Dhananjay Singh and Raja Bhaiya came to his house and threatened him again.

Speaking to PTI by telephone from the cantonment police station, Raja Bhaiya accused the Mayawati government of 'persecuting' dissident legislators to prevent them from opposing her government.

He said the chief minister should realise that her government could not survive by such tactics.

Raja Bhaiya claimed it was Bundela, who had a few days back, expressed his loyalty to SP leader Amar Singh.

The two MLAs were produced before the court of Kumari Chandra Sheela in the evening amidst tight security. They were remanded to judicial custody till November eight. Among others, they have been charged under the Gangster Act.

Reacting to the arrests, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav said the arrest of the two independent MLAs was a sign of Chief Minister Mayawati's frustration.

Alleging that the two MLAs have been slapped with 'false' cases, he claimed that Bundela had been abducted by 'a minister' and forced to lodge a complaint against them.

Meanwhile, dissident BJP legislators met Governor Vishnukant Shastri to protest against the arrest of the two MLAs and alleged that they were being harassed.

'Save BJP Committee' convenor Ganga Bhakt Singh told reporters that the two MLAs were woken up in the wee hours and taken to the police station.

He warned that if this sort of 'intimidation' by the Mayawati government continued, the dissidents would be forced to take a decisive action.

He denied that the dissidents were hobnobbing with the Samajwadi Party and asserted that they were still the soldiers of the BJP and were only raising their voice against victimisation.

Singh also said Raja Bhaiya had contested the last assembly poll with the support of the BJP.

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