No deal with BJP on Sohrabuddin case: Govt

NEW DELHI: Facing flak from non-BJP opposition parties, the Government today rubbished the charge of striking a deal with BJP to get its support for the nuclear liability bill in return for letting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi off the hook in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.

"The Government of India is not interfering in the case," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told the Lok Sabha as Lalu Prasad ( RJD) raised slogans alleging a deal between the Congress and the BJP.

Refuting Prasad's allegation, Bansal said CBI was investigating the Soharabuddin case on the directives of the Supreme Court and the government had no role in it.

He said the RJD chief was making the allegation on the basis of a newspaper report, which the CBI has already denied.

The BJP was earlier opposed to the bill but has backed the measure after government agreed to its demand to increase compensation in case of a nuclear accident at any plant to Rs 1,500 crore.