The Hindu : Turmoil over CBI petition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

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Turmoil over CBI petition

By Gargi Parsai

New Delhi Feb. 25. The Central Bureau of Investigation's petition seeking permission to prosecute the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case in a Rae Bareily Court rocked Parliament today, with the Opposition walking out in both the Houses.

The Law Minister, Arun Jaitley's assertion that the Government had, at no stage, interfered with the conduct of the CBI and had no intention of interfering in the matter, did not satisfy the Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha.

Declaring that the Minister's reply was ``unacceptable'', the leader of the Opposition, Manmohan Singh, led the walkout.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Kapil Sibal (Cong.) said the incident (Babri masjid demolition) happened in 1992 and nothing had happened.

``There is some element of interference and purposeful delay,'' he said and sought a statement from the Government on what steps the CBI had taken since 1992 to prosecute the Deputy Prime Minister and others.

Immediately, S.S. Ahluwalia (BJP)) was on feet shouting that the Bofors case took 19 years. Amid the din raised by this observation, Dr. Singh demanded that the Government come out with a statement, as it was about enforcement of the rule of law involving a high dignitary holding high office.

More or less the same script was enacted in the Lok Sabha also. The issue was raised by Priyoranjan Dasmunsi through an adjournment motion. His contention was that Mr. Advani should resign as the CBI petition to prosecute him and 19 others in the masjid demolition case to be heard in court tomorrow.

Mr. Dasmunsi said that it would be difficult for the CBI to discharge its duties so long as ``the prime accused continued to be a Minister''. His submission was supported by the Left parties and the SP.

However, Mr. Jaitley rejected the demand, saying that the accused had been Ministers since 1998, and there was not even a single instance of their interfering with the investigations. Dissatisfied with his reply the Opposition parties staged a walkout.

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