Vanzara Letter: Mayawati seeks debate, probe

NEW DELHI: Congress received an unexpected shot in the arm from Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, who has demanded a high-level enquiry into the charges levelled by IPS officer DG Vanzara against the Gujarat government.

She demanded that the contents of the letter of resignation written by Vanzara be discussed by both Houses of Parliament. “Our party’s opinion is that it (Vanzara allegations) should be discussed in both Houses. At the same time, there should be a high-level inquiry into it, because it is a serious issue,” said Mayawati outside Parliament.

In his 10-page resignation letter, Vanzara, who is lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail in connection with a string of alleged fake encounter cases, had said the accused officers and men “simply implemented the conscious policy” of the state government. Vanzara accused the state government, particularly former Minister of State for Home Amit Shah of betraying him and 32 other officers, in jail in encounter killing cases.


Mayawati added that, “if a proper inquiry is held, then many persons at higher level will come under the shadow of the probe”. The probe will be a lesson for bureaucracy and it will try to perform its duty with cautious approach and with responsibility, she said.

Asked whether the probe should be carried out by CBI or any other agency, the BSP supremo said, “If all other parties want CBI probe, then I think CBI should better do it. Vanzara and several other police officers in the state have been incarcerated for the past several years in connection with the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.

The Gujarat Congress has called for a bandh demanding that Chief Minister Narendra Modi quit in wake of Vanzara’s letter and a sting operation allegedly exposing BJP leaders exploring ways to favourbaly ‘fix’ the Tulsi Prajapati murder case. Senior Gujarat Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia alleged that “the 10-page letter of Vanzara has not only opened the eyes of whole country but has shaken the people of Gujarat as well”.