To gain in limelight, Arjun seeks probe into Batla encounter
In a desperate attempt to steal the limelight, HRD minister Arjun Singh on Tuesday demanded judicial probe into the Batla House encounter.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: In a desperate attempt to steal the limelight, HRD minister Arjun Singh on Tuesday demanded judicial probe into the Batla House encounter. A chargesheet in the Delhi bombings, filed in a city court last week, had said that the conspiracy for the attack was hatched in a Batla House apartment. In the encounter, two jihadis were killed, while a highly-decorated police officer also had to sacrifice his life.
Mr Singh, who demanded a judicial probe, seemed unconcerned about the fallout of his statement. His support for the false claims by handlers of the attackers, as well as the Left-liberals, constitutes belittling of national security goals. The government leadership, which earlier sensed in it a larger plot to obstruct terror investigations, had ruled out any probe into the encounter.
The chargesheet filed in the city court said that the Indian Mujahideen module of 14 members was based at Batla House for about six weeks before the September 13 blasts, when they split in groups to plant nine bombs at various locations in the capital.
But the HRD minister insisted that there should be an inquiry into the encounter. ���In democracies, it is always better to make things clear,��� Mr Singh told reporters when asked about his opinion on the shootout. To a question whether a judicial probe into the incident, as has been demanded by many quarters, would help in making it clear, Singh replied ���why not���.
The HRD minister also claimed that the prime minister was inclined to order a probe into the encounter. ���As far as I understand, even the prime minister is thinking over this issue,��� the minister said. He, however, declined to elaborate about his talks between him and the prime minister on the issue saying ���this is something privileged���.
This assertion, sources in the government said, was far from truth as Mr Manmohan Singh is of the view that such allegations will only diminish the image of the police and the government.
The BJP hit out at Mr Singh saying that his statement demanding a probe into the Batla encounter will only help in inflaming the potential terror recruits. ���Politicians like Mr Singh cannot shake off their obsession with finding fault with how police are conducting terror investigation. There cannot be anything more insulting to the terror victims than seeking protection to terrorist,��� said the BJP.
Mr Singh, who demanded a judicial probe, seemed unconcerned about the fallout of his statement. His support for the false claims by handlers of the attackers, as well as the Left-liberals, constitutes belittling of national security goals. The government leadership, which earlier sensed in it a larger plot to obstruct terror investigations, had ruled out any probe into the encounter.
The chargesheet filed in the city court said that the Indian Mujahideen module of 14 members was based at Batla House for about six weeks before the September 13 blasts, when they split in groups to plant nine bombs at various locations in the capital.
But the HRD minister insisted that there should be an inquiry into the encounter. ���In democracies, it is always better to make things clear,��� Mr Singh told reporters when asked about his opinion on the shootout. To a question whether a judicial probe into the incident, as has been demanded by many quarters, would help in making it clear, Singh replied ���why not���.
The HRD minister also claimed that the prime minister was inclined to order a probe into the encounter. ���As far as I understand, even the prime minister is thinking over this issue,��� the minister said. He, however, declined to elaborate about his talks between him and the prime minister on the issue saying ���this is something privileged���.
This assertion, sources in the government said, was far from truth as Mr Manmohan Singh is of the view that such allegations will only diminish the image of the police and the government.
ADVERTISEMENT
The BJP hit out at Mr Singh saying that his statement demanding a probe into the Batla encounter will only help in inflaming the potential terror recruits. ���Politicians like Mr Singh cannot shake off their obsession with finding fault with how police are conducting terror investigation. There cannot be anything more insulting to the terror victims than seeking protection to terrorist,��� said the BJP.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
