The Hindu : National : BJP for Govinda's resignation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 21, 2005

National

National

BJP for Govinda's resignation

Special Correspondent

Let there be an enquiry into the episode to clarify whether Govinda went to Dubai under "duress" from "India's most wanted criminal"

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday sought the resignation of film star and Congress M.P. from North Mumbai, Govinda, for his alleged links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim after video footage aired by a private television channel showed them together at a party.

Talking to reporters here, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said Sonia Gandhi, as Congress president, should tell the country what action she proposed against the MP. "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the issue of Dawood Ibrahim during his recent visit to the U.S., discussed it with Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and hence would have to announce his party's stand," he said, adding that the footage revealed the `connections' among the underworld, politicians and Bollywood.

The footage, reportedly shot in 1991, shows Govinda in a party with Dawood at the inauguration of a store in Dubai. "We are not talking about the nexus between the underworld and Bollywood. Govinda is a Member of Parliament and therefore, answerable to the people," Mr. Javadekar said. Let there be an enquiry into the episode to clarify whether Govinda went to Dubai under "duress" from "India's most wanted criminal" and whether he continued to have links with Dawood. If found innocent, he could always come back, Mr. Javadekar added.

"From Govinda's body language it was clear that he was not under `pressure' and it appeared as if he was participating in a family function. Police must enquire into it and appropriate legal action must follow, if found guilty," the spokesperson said.

`Not a member then'

The Congress said the footage showing its party MP, Govinda in the company of underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim, related to 1991 when the film actor was neither in the party nor in politics.

Reacting to the BJP demand, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: "They overlook a grossly sensational depiction assuming it to be true. First, the events related to 1991 when Govinda was neither in politics nor the Congress.

Secondly, it is unclear whether Dawood Ibrahim was himself a notified wanted person in 1991.

Govinda said a large number of other actors were also present but were excised [from the footage telecast on Wednesday] and as a consequence a biased report should not be sensationalised.''

As regards the demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi come out with their stand, Mr. Singhvi said the BJP had made it a habit to seek their response whenever anything happened in any sphere and in any remote part of the country.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National