A day after Bhopal encounter AICC mum, but some may move SC

NEW DELHI: Even a day after the Bhopal encounter, AICC is officially mum, betraying the leadership’s apparent confusion over the incident. But sources close to senior Congress leaders from MP said they were firming up an action plan to mount a legal challenge. These leaders may request Supreme Court to order and monitor an investigation into the fake encounter.

AICC general secretaries Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, and party’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge have already questioned the authenticity of the encounter and demanded a judicial probe into the incident. Other Opposition leaders, including BSP chief Mayawati and JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav, the CPM Polit Bureau and CPI Central Secretariat have come out with official statements and tweets, raising doubts over the veracity of the encounter and demanding a judicial inquiry.

However, the official twitter handlers of both Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s Office have skipped any comment on the issue. Some party functionaries privately said the leadership was divided over what can be a ‘politically correct’ stand on the encounter and whether formally questioning the veracity of encounter will go against the (BJP-led) ‘public discourse’ or whether it will anger ‘Hindu sentiments.’ While BJP is clearly pressuring Congress to fall in line and act as cheer leader for the encounter, the coming days may show which way the AICC establishment will officially swing.