CPI(M) MP KK Ragesh questions CBI role in probe into Narendra Dabholkar murder

NEW DELHI: The 2013 killing of noted rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune today figured in Rajya Sabha, with a CPI(M) member saying even the court had expressed concern over CBI investigation in the case.

"Narendra Dabholkar was killed in August 2013 and till today the culprits, the murderers have not been brought to justice ...till date the investigating agency, the CBI could not arrest the culprit, could not make proper investigation," KK Ragesh said during the Zero Hour.

Amid slogan-shouting by Congress members demanding resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Ragesh said as per the police, seven cameras had captured the footage of the killers but "even then, why have they not been brought before the law".

"The court itself is criticising the attitude of the CBI on the lack of interest. Court was saying why the CBI is not having an interest... Who is the force behind all these things? Why the CBI is being turned into a caged parrot again and again. Who is behind this," Ragesh said.

The CPI(M) member said Dabholkar was fighting against superstition and he had drafted the anti-black magic Bill, "and that is the very reason he was killed."

Ragesh said the bill was objected to by the Hindutva forces, including the RSS and Shiv Sena.

BJD member Dilip Kumar Tirkey, himself a former national hockey player, highlighted the plight of star sportspersons saying public sector undertakings were not making recruitments as per the sports quota norms.

He said a national shooting player was running a 'dhaba', while another international woman athlete was selling 'golpappa' and a karate player was earning his livelihood by selling tea.

Tirkey demanded that PSUs should make recruitments under sports quota as per the rules. He also demanded that the private sectors too should be asked to recruit sports players under sports quota.