Monday, March 7 2005 09:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: The Congress yesterday (Mar 6, 2005) demanded that the Centre and the Jharkhand Government initiate steps in 'freeing' independent MLAs Hari Narain Rai and Enos Ekka as their families were in a State of fear.

"We demand the intervention of both the Centre and the State Governments to take steps for the release of the MLAs for the sake of their family members," Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president and Lok Sabha member Shusila Kerkata said in Ranchi.

She said that the 'illegal confinement' was against democratic norms.

"Violators of democracy are preaching democracy," Kerketta said, referring to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA's) charges that the Governor had crossed all limits while inviting United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leader Shibu Soren to form the Government in Jharkhand.

Meanwhile, Kerketta would meet all the candidates who contested the recently concluded three-phase Assembly elections, besides party office bearers, including those representing district units on March 9.

The meeting would review the party's election results, which fell short of expectation despite 'having a wave in its favour' and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi campaigning for the party, a party release said in Ranchi.

The Congress, which had eleven members in the previous Assembly, could win only nine seats.

The UPA denied allegations that it had sought the help of Cardinal Telesphore Toppo in the numbers game against the NDA by 'influencing' MLA Enos Ekka to come out of the NDA-fold and support the Shibu Soren Ministry.

"No, no, we have not approached the Cardinal. These are baseless allegations," Congress leader and Union Minister for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahay told a press conference in Ranchi.

He was replying to a question that Toppo was being reportedly dragged into the controversy before the March 15 floor test.

Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi had also rubbished charges at a press conference that religious sentiments were being used to influence Ekka to break away from the NDA.

Nearly 1,000 Christian tribals took out a procession at Simdega town demanding that Ekka be 'released from the NDA confinement' and allowed to support the UPA during the vote of confidence.

Ekka along with four other independents and NDA MLAs are currently in Rajasthan.