How can UP govt protect people when it can't secure assembly: Cong

Attacking the Yogi Adityanath government over the recovery of an explosive material in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the Congress today asked how can it protect people when it cannot ensure the safety of the state legislature.
It said Adityanath should not shrug off the state's responsibility to investigate the matter by recommending an NIA probe into it.
"Adityanath should not shrug off his responsibility ... Is the political leadership of UP, including the chief minister, finding itself helpless that it cannot protect the state assembly?" AICC media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala asked.
"If a government cannot protect the state's assembly, how it will protect its people? Adityanath should probe the matter. This is condemnable," he said.

Referring to Adityanath's suggestion that mobile phones should not allowed inside the assembly premises, Surjewala said the chief minister was trying to divert attention by engaging in symbolism.
Earlier in the day, Adityanath informed the House that a powerful plastic explosive was found in the assembly and recommended an NIA probe into it.

The chief minister said the cleaning staff Wednesday found a white powder wrapped in a paper close to the seat of Leader of the Opposition Ram Govind Choudhry.
A forensic report confirmed it was pentaerythritol tetranitrate, he said.
The dog squad had failed to detect the explosive.