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Disgraceful episode: CPI (M)

Special Correspondent

Left parties seek action against BJP MP

NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Thursday demanded stringent action against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Babubhai Katara following his arrest in an attempt to smuggle out a woman and a boy to Canada.

Describing the incident as "shocking and disgraceful," the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said the fact that Mr. Katara was using the diplomatic passports issued to his wife and son for this mercenary purpose reflected badly on his status as a Lok Sabha member and his party.

As for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the CPI (M) said it should come to terms with the reality. "This episode has come soon after six of its MPs were expelled from Parliament for accepting bribes for questions. The BJP, instead of talking about its clear image and "su-raj" should ponder why it has become a refuge for venal and corrupt people,'' the party Polit Bureau statement said.

The Communist Party of India said that the conduct of the MP has brought disrepute to Parliament and democracy. The party demanded that apart from forgery and cheating charges, the angle of human trafficking should be thoroughly probed and action must be taken.

Dismissal sought

The CPI (M-L) Liberation demanded immediate dismissal of Mr. Katara. He was one of those implicated in the Gujarat 2002 riots, it claimed. In the past the BJP had attacked noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai on false charges of human trafficking to harass her for speaking out against the riots. "Now the BJP itself stands exposed for involvement in such a racket," a statement said.

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