SP, Cong flood state with protests

Party spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi said the Congress workers burnt the effigies of Thackeray and paid floral tributes to the two brothers from Jaunpur killed in the violence in Mumbai.

The Congress, he said, is determined to fight the divisive politics of Thackeray, who has unleashed a reign of terror against north Indians for his narrow political ends. He said in each of the districts, local Congress leaders staged demonstrations and burnt effigies of the MNS leader.

The Samajwadi Party had given the call for agitation to protest against the alleged desecration of the statue of Sardar Patel in Pratapgarh district.

The party had alleged that the statue was demolished by the police on the orders of the state government.

The state government had denied the charge, maintaining that the statue was removed as it was installed without the prior permission of the district administration on October 31.

Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had earlier demanded the arrest of Chief Minister Mayawati over the issue.

Party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhary said on Wednesday that the whole nation 8212; particularly the Kurmi community 8212; is stunned at the conduct of the Bahujan Samaj Party government.

He said the chief minister had ordered the demolition of the statue as she had no knowledge of the freedom struggle.