The Hindu : National : CBI probe sought into attack on Prasad

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Sunday, Oct 09, 2005

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National

CBI probe sought into attack on Prasad

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the attack on the former Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, during an election rally in Bihar on Thursday. Talking to reporters here, BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, who was with Mr. Prasad at the rally, said any inquiry by the State would not be fair as the administration and the police were "totally politicised." This could be gauged from the fact that a slip recovered from the pocket of the accused made the Home Secretary suggest that he was a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist.

"As it is, elections in Bihar witness a lot of bloodshed but this attack at Nokha has been the most violent beginning to any electioneering in the past 15 years."

To address rallies

Mr. Mahajan has decided to opt out of a foreign tour and instead hold election rallies at Nokha and the adjoining places. He expressed the hope that the people of Bihar would put their democratic stamp of approval for the Supreme Court order during the elections.

Meanwhile, the special convention to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the BJP, scheduled to be held in Mumbai from December 26, would be inaugurated by party president L.K. Advani. The concluding session is to be addressed by the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on December 28.

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