M A I N   N E W S

Maya wants removal of Jagmohan
Our Correspondent

Lucknow, July 28
Taking up cudgels against Union Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan on the Taj Heritage Corridor issue, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today demanded the dismissal of the minister as “he was trying to drive a wedge between the state and the union governments”.

“I have enough proof to show that Mr Jagmohan was a puppet in the hands of opposition parties and was trying to create bad blood between BJP and BSP leaders. Therefore, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should immediately sack him from the ministry,” Ms Mayawati told reporters here today.

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said she had written a letter regarding this to the Prime Minister. A copy of the two-page letter was also released to the press.

“My party will also raise this issue in the Lok Sabha,” Ms Mayawati, who is also vice-president of the BSP, said.

BJP rejects demand
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 28
The BJP took exception to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s demand for the dismissal of Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan on the issue of the controversial Taj Heritage Corridor project.

BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the party did not agree to the demand as Mr Jagmohan was a senior minister who was aware of the rules. He said the controversy would not cause friction between the BJP and the BSP.

According to a PTI report, Ms Mayawati spoke to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on telephone this evening and is understood to have pressed her demand.