My remarks on Prez rule misconstrued: Jaiswal

Union Minister and Senior Congress leader Sri Prakash Jaiswal on Thursday said that his remarks over the President's rule in Uttar Pradesh was misinterpreted by the media.

"My statement was misinterpreted and that I was only elaborating on constitutional provisions,” Sri Prakash Jaiswal said on Thursday.

Jaiswal, earlier in the day, had said that if the Congress failed to get majority in UP assembly polls, then it will seek imposition of President's rule in the state.

Jaiswal's remarks drew sharp criticism from the state's political quarter, with political parties lambasting the Congress leader.

In Allahabad, senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani said, “The constitution makers could never have imagined this. Article 356 has been misused in so many ways under different circumstances”.

Another BJP leader Kalraj Mishra, said, “Making such a statement when the election is on is tantamount to mocking the electorate.”

Uma Bharti, whose constituency Charkhari (Mahoba) went to the polls on Thursday said that she would take to the streets if President’s rule was imposed in UP. “There will be no option other than taking to the streets”, she said.

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, “They are drunk with power. They have lost their mind. This is a clear violation of the model code of conduct. We will try to get in touch with the Election Commission.”

BJP also termed Jaiswal's remarks as an indicator of the "feudal mindset" of the Congress.