Mayawati govt comes under attack from Cong, SP in Lok Sabha

Mayawati government today came under fire in the Lok Sabha from the Congress and Samajwadi Party over the treatment meted out to the opposition in Uttar Pradesh, leading to a clash and adjournment of 40 minutes.

While Congress raised the issue of a Union minister being disallowed from going to a site in Rae Bareli where a bridge
had been built under a centrally-sponsored scheme, SP members
protested against cane-charging of a party's procession in
Bareilly.

Congress member Jagdambika Pal said during Zero Hour that R P N Singh, Union minister of state for road and transport, was proceeding to the site of the bridge in Rae Bareli to inspect it ahead of the inauguration by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi next week.

He was prohibited by the state administration, Pal said, terming it as an "unlawful" act which amounted to his "arrest".

As he raised the issue, BSP members were on their feet, expressing objection to his utterances. This led to a clash
between members of BSP and Congress.
  
Singh, who was stopped by police at Munshiganj while he was on his way to inspect the bridge connecting Rae Bareli and Fatehpur districts, was present in the House. 

Rae Bareli is the constituency of Gandhi. 

Pal, member from Uttar Pradesh, said he was drawing the attention of the House as it concerned privilege of an MP who
was performing his duty.

This also related to the Constitutional right of Singh under Article 19, which provides for freedom of speech and expression, he said.