The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has urged Governor Vishnukant Shastri to remove ministers with criminal antecedents from the Mayawati ministry.

State Congress chief Arun Kumar Singh 'Munna' raised the demand through a memorandum, highlighting the 'involvement' of Amarmani Tripathi, Minister of

State for Publications and Printing, in the murder of 24-year-old Hindi poetess Madhumita Shukla in Lucknow last week.

The Congress said the police had developed cold feet because of the minister's involvement in the crime. "No wonder the state's law and order had gone to dogs. As long as criminals continue to hold high offices of ministers, the situation is bound to deteriorate. There are a host of criminals in the ministry and it is high time they are sacked," he said.

He also supported the Samajwadi Party's demand for entrusting the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. "Impartial and independent investigation in the case is not possible by the police," Munna added.

Madhumita's post-mortem had shown that she was six months pregnant. Her sister had accused Tripathi of having illicit relations with her and the police, too, had discovered evidence in this regard.

The police, however, allegedly suppressed the evidence, and her sister, too, backtracked on her allegations. The Congress leader felt all this was being done under duress.

Tripathi, whose name figures in the crime records of eastern Uttar Pradesh, has been charged of involvement in unlawful activities all along his ministership. Former chief minister Rajnath Singh had dropped him from his council of ministers following his alleged involvement in a case of abduction.

He fought the last election on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and won.

Barely a month ago he was charged with grabbing a huge property in his hometown, Gorakhpur. The Allahahabd high court even directed him to vacate the place.

"Tripathi used his muscle power to help Mayawati win the vote of confidence in the assembly. So she is going out of her way to shield him," a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.