BJP turns up Ishrat Jahan heat on Congress, advocates inquiry to reveal truth

NEW DELHI: On the eve of Narendra Modi’s budget for the next fiscal, the ruling NDA has indicated that it will not let the Congress off the hook, and the BJP has in fact advocated on Sunday an inquiry into the alleged change in the affidavit on Ishrat Jahan at the instance of UPA’s home minister P Chidambaram.

“Former home secretary (GK Pillai) has revealed that the LeT links of Isharat Jahan were deliberately removed at the behest of P Chidambaram. This is a scandal … I feel there should be an inquiry to reveal the truth — about those who tried to shield a terrorist, and Chidambaram even today is trying to shield terrorist Afzal Guru,” BJP spokesman MJ Akbar demanded on the eve of budget presentation.

The demand for an inquiry from the BJP has come a day after the Congress announced that it will keep the heat on the government over the issue of alleged Dalit discrimination in Hyderabad central university by moving a breach of privilege notice against HRD minister Smriti Irani.

While the Opposition has put the BJP on the backfoot over charges of Dalit discrimination in Hyderabad central university, the BJP has sought to turn the tables on Congress by cornering it over the issue of lending support to JNU students, allegedly involved in raising anti-India slogans earlier this month.

“Congress is trying to run away from the Guru issue because of public sentiments. Rahul Gandhi went to support those who called (Guru’s hanging) as judicial killing,” Akbar said.

With former home secretary GK Pillai claiming that Chidambaram had removed Jahan’s links with LeT has given new fodder to the BJP to corner the grand old party.