Women's organisation urge Tandon's disqualification

Condemning the sari distribution function in Lucknow in which 22 women were killed, women's organisations led by AIDWA today urged the Election Commission to disqualify BJP from contesting election from the constituency.

Condemning the sari distribution function in Lucknow in which 22 women were killed, women's organisations led by AIDWA today urged the Election Commission to disqualify BJP from contesting election from the constituency, from where the Prime Minister is a candidate.

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"This is not only in violation of the model code of conduct for elections, but it shows the utter disrespect of the BJP towards poor people, particularly towards poor women," said Kalindi Deshpande of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) at a protest demonstration here.

The groups, including National Federation of Indian Women, Joint Women's Programme and Muslim Women's Forum also demanded the immediate arrest of senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon at whose birthday function the saris were being distributed.

Sehaba Farooqi of the NFIW said "the very fact that thousands of poor women gathered here with the hope of getting one free sari clearly shows the real condition of voters in the Prime Minister's constituency."

At least 21 women and a child were killed when a stampede broke out while saris were being distributed at a birthday function of Tandon in Lucknow yesterday.