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Sniffer dogs taken to Rajghat, alleges BJP

Special Correspondent

Members clash in Rajya Sabha over allegations of desecration of samadhi

NEW DELHI: Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members clashed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday over allegations of disrespect to Mahatma Gandhi. They said sniffer dogs were taken to Rajghat, Gandhi's samadhi, before the visit of U.S. President George Bush. However, Dipankar Mukherjee (CPI-M) had the last word when he pointed out there was much sparring over dogs, but none had a word to say about Mr. Bush's visit.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Kripal Parmar (BJP) referred to reports that American sniffer dogs had desecrated Rajghat where people were allowed to enter only barefoot. He contended that disrespect had been shown to the nation. Rajiv Shukla (Congress) wanted to know whether the security drill before Mr. Bush's visit involved sniffer dogs.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri said a standard security drill was followed at Rajghat since an attempt was made on the life of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Taking on the Opposition, he wanted to know whether the same standard security drill was not followed when it was occupying the ruling party benches. As the Opposition continued to protest, Mr. Pachouri said, "I am speaking on record." He asked the Opposition to make an on-record denial about security procedures during its reign at the Centre.

The Minister also denied reports of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having been frisked as he entered the Delhi airport to receive Mr. Bush. "I want to remind you that the Convenor of the National Democratic Alliance was stripped when he went to the U.S.," he countered, even as Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan closed any further discussion on the subject.

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