Cong.(I) seeks resignation of U.P. Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, JULY 13. The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress(I) has demanded the dismissal of the State Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, Mr. Rajaram Pandey, who had allegedly tortured and illegally confined the driver and cleaner of a truck involved in an accident with his car.

In a fax message sent to the National Human Rights Commission, the party demanded immediate action against the Minister for his ``inhuman'' act, a press release issued by the official Congress (I) spokesman, Mr. Akhilesh Pratap Singh, said .

According to the truck driver, Mr. Bakunthnath Rai, the Minister's car, while trying to overtake the truck on July 1, dashed against the truck and got damaged. When he stopped the truck, the occupants of the car got down and started assaulting him. The Minister, who was in the car, alleged that the truck driver wanted to kill him.

The truck driver and cleaner were then forcibly taken to the Minister's official residence in Gomti Nagar. The truck too was brought here. The driver and cleaner were kept confined to the Minister's residence till yesterday when the diver somehow managed to escape.

His story appeared in a Hindi daily this morning after which the police went to the Minister's residence from where the cleaner was rescued.

The truck has since been taken to the police station, the Principal Home Secretary, Mr. V.K. Mittal, told newspersons this afternoon. No complaint has been lodged with the police from either side, he added.

Mr. Rajaram Pandey denied that he had illegally confined the driver at his residence. He said the driver, overcome by guilt after the accident, came to his residence and said he would first arrange compensation for the damage caused to his vehicle and only then would leave the place. The driver and cleaner were well looked after by him and there was no question of assaulting them, Mr. Pandey said.

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Section  : National
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