Bill copy snatching incident: Charges, counter-charges follow

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, accompanied by his party members including Yashveer Singh who had snatched the Bill copy, told reporters outside Parliament House that Congress has insulted his party MP.

"Congress has insulted our MP. Our MP was beaten and now the channel has deleted (blacked out) the clipping. What was done to our MP is insulting," he said.

He said SP has opposed this bill all along and will continue to oppose it but denied Congress allegations that the party had used a Dalit MP to snatch the bill from the minister and that the whole incident was pre-planned.

"The charges against us are baseless," he said.

Asked what would be SP's stand in Lok Sabha tomorrow when the government plans to bring the bill up for discussion, he said, "Our struggle will continue. This is an unconstitutional bill. Congress is forcefully trying to bring it."

Yadav alluded to pressures on him from the government, saying Congress is using all instruments to put pressure on him but he will continue to fight.

"When the Congress goes to the people it will realise the serious repercussions," he said.

Yashveer Singh, MP from Nagina reserved constituency, was reluctant to speak about the issue but said there was "violence" in the House.

Vilas Muttemwar (Cong) denied the charge that he had attacked Yashveer Singh in the melee. "This incident only shows the attitude of SP towards Dalits. BJP allegation that Congress attacked the SP member is only adding fuel to fire. If minister is under attack is it not our duty to protect him," he asked.

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