BSP MLA issuing threats to whistleblower in Banda rape case: Congress

Accusing arrested BSP MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwiwedi and his supporters of issuing threats to the Congress legislator, who blew the lid off Banda rape case, the party today demanded that security around him be beefed up.

"Congress MLA Vivek Singh, who brought the Banda rape case involving a backward community girl to light, has been threatened by Dwiwedi. He is also receiving threats from other persons," Uttar Pradesh Congress Committe (UPCC) chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi told reporters.

A party delegation would also meet the governor tomorrow demanding enhanced security cover for the MLA, she said.

The Congress leader said she had already written to UP chief minister Mayawati asking her to increase the MLA's security cover.

She said a letter had also been written to home minister P Chidambaram in this regard.

She also accused Uttar Pradesh government of curtailing the protocol of central ministers.

"Union minister of state Jitin Prasad, who was here yesterday, was not given protocol as per his post by the state government," she said.

Charging the state government with interpreting protocol in an arbitrary manner, Joshi said, "Such an act is against the democratic system and a party delegation will meet the governor and lodge a protest."