Widespread protests in Varanasi in support of Mayor

Hundreds of people today took out a procession on their vehicles and burnt effigies of chief minister Mayawati and the Varnasi Municipal Commissioner in several places alleging them of misusing the SC/ST Act.
    
The incident was sparked off after police filed an FIR against the Mayor of Varanasi under the SC/ST Act and the IPC five days ago following complaints of a clerk in the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN).
    
VNN clerk Bhonu Ram filed the complaint against Mayor Kaushlendra Singh accusing him of making a casteist remark and trying to assault him,a charge denied by the civic body chief.
    
Coming out in support of Singh, several people took out a procession on two wheelers and burnt the effigies saying the Mayor was framed and the VNN clerk filed the complaint at the behest of municipal commissioner Nand Kishore.
    
Singh had launched a campaign against Nand Kishore charging him with indulging in corrupt practices.
    
The demonstrations were held in the Pandeypur, Sunderpur, Pahadia, Sarna, Chetganj and Bhelupur areas of the city. Widespread protests were also held in many parts of the district yesterday including Lanka, Sunderpur, Ramnagar, Pahadia, Bhelupur, Rathyatra, Sigra, Kuchhehari.
    
BJP has also come out in support of the Mayor and the demonstrators have threatened to intensify their stir if the FIR against the Mayor is not withdrawn.