BSP calls off agitation after police assures arrest of Singh

Lucknow, July 21 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers on Thursday afternoon called off their agitation here against former Uttar Pradesh BJP Vice-President Daya Shankar Singh for his abusive remarks against BSP chief Mayawati after police assured Singh's arrest within the next 36 hours.

Lucknow's District Magistrate Raj Shekhar met the agitated party workers and leaders and told them the police was looking for Singh after an FIR was lodged against him late on Wednesday night at the Hazratganj police station.

After a categorical and time-bound assurance by authorities, BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui announced the agitation was being called off.

The police conducted searches at about a dozen places to nab Daya Shankar Singh but met with no success.

Sources say Singh is holed up at some place in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Following the outrage over the statement, the BJP late night expelled Singh from the party for six years.

Earlier, hundreds and thousands of BSP workers on Thursday took to the streets here to protest Singh's abusive comments against Mayawati.

The protesters threw traffic out of gear in Hazratganj, giving anxious moments to the district administration, police officers and those controlling traffic.

State BSP president Raj Achal Rajbhar said Singh's statement had revealed the "anti-Dalit mentality" of the Bharatiya Janata Party.