Tuesday, August 9 2005 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: Calling to initiate the fight against criminalisation of politics, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav yesterday (August 8, 2005) appealed to political parties not to field criminals in the coming panchayat polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Replying on the discussion on the law and order situation in the state in the Vidhan Sabha, Yadav assured the House that the government would make fool-proof arrangements to ensure free and fair polls.

He said criminals, who contested polls, must be defeated even if they belonged to the ruling party.

The Chief Minister admitted that there were incidence of crime but claimed quick action was being taken in all cases.

The Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon, initiating the discussion, expressed serious concern at the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in the state.

He claimed that the incidence of crime, including murders, rape, loot and kidnappings have been on the increase and the government "remained a mute spectator".

He claimed that during the last six months as many as 35 thousand cases of rape, loot and murders had been registered in the state.

Tandon also referred to the recent terrorist attack on the Ram Janambhoomi complex and alleged that the government was indulging in politics of appeasement instead of taking stern action.