Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh sits in dharna outside CM House

BHOPAL: State Congress led by leader of opposition Ajay Singh on Tuesday morning staged a sit-in-dharna outside chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s official residence demanding resignation of minister of state Lal Singh Arya, who has been made accused in the murder of former MLA. In an area protected under section 144 CrPC, the Congressmen managed to dodge police barricades and heavy deployment of uniformed men to reach the main gate of CM House at 6, Shamla Hills.

Congress leaders, including leader of Opposition Ajay Singh, senior MLA Dr Govind Singh, MLA Arif Aqueel, party legal cell chief JP Dhanopia and former mayor of the city Vibha Patel, sat on a dharna under a tree, demanding Arya’s resignation for the murder of Congress MLA Makhanlal Jatav who was shot dead during a Lok Sabha election public meeting in Bhind on April 13, 2009. A Bhind court last week directed to make minister of state for GAD Lal Singh Arya an accused in the murder and issued an arrest warrant against him.

Arya took a stay on the arrest warrant, while the state government said he will not step down. Speaking to TOI, leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said, “There are two sets of rules and law under BJP rule in Madhya Pradesh. One set for the common man, and another for BJP leaders who can get away with murder. The court has given a stay on Lal Singh Arya’s arrest for a few days, but the case against him under section 302 for murder remains. He should have resigned on moral grounds, but he is sticking to his chair.”