Youth Congress, BJYM clash: Himachal Governor Summons DGP

Shimla, Jan 30 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Governor Kalyan Singh Friday summoned Director General of Police Sanjay Kumar and sought a report on the clash Thursday between activists of the Youth Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha here.

At least 12 activists of both the groups were injured during the Youth Congress' protest here Thursday against the central government's land acquisition ordinance.

Official sources told IANS that besides the DGP, the governor summoned Additional Director General S.R. Mardi and Superintendent of Police D.W. Negi, seeking the report on the incident.

Earlier in the day, leaders of the opposition BJP met Kalyan Singh here and submitted a memorandum, demanding dismissal of the government over the reported attack on its activists by the Youth Congress workers led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son.

Everyone has the right to protest in a democracy but what was the justification for the Youth Congress activists to hold a protest against the central government's decision at the state BJP's office, said the memorandum.

It seemed that it was a conspiracy as the protest was led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya Singh, who is also the state Youth Congress president, it said.

The memorandum was submitted by the BJP legislators led by two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Activists of both the Youth Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha were injured Thursday during the protest against the central government's land acquisition ordinance, the police said.

During the demonstration, the Youth Congress activists smashed the windowpanes of the BJP's party office.

"This incident happened at the direction of the chief minister as the protesters were carrying sticks, stones and empty bottles. Though, it was in the knowledge of the police chief, no step was taken to prevent the incident. In fact, the BJP activists were lathi-charged," it said.

Twelve activists of the BJP were injured in the clash, it added.

The BJP, through the two-page memorandum, also demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee condemned the clash.

State Congress chief spokesperson Naresh Chauhan said the Youth Congress workers under its president Vikramaditya Singh were staging a peaceful protest at the BJP office to protest against the ordinance.

"The BJP leaders seems to be looking for some issue which was the reason that the party workers resorted to stone-pelting in a pre-planned manner on Youth Congress workers who were holding peaceful protest," Chauhan said in a statement.

Chauhan said Youth Congress president Vikramditya Singh had even informed former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Dhumal about the protest and had assured him of a peaceful demonstration.

"But the BJP workers tried to defeat the purpose of this protest by pelting stones on the Youth Congress workers which led to the clash between BJP and Youth Congress workers," he added.