Mayawati trying to defend BJP in CD case: Congress

{image-CD case1_31012008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Lucknow, Jan 31: The Congress today charged the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh of defending the BJP in the controversial CD case by recommending a CBI probe into the matter.

Talking to reporters here, AICC general secretary in charge of UP affairs Digvijay Singh said since the case was already investigated by Lucknow police, there was no need to go for a CBI probe. To a poser, the former Madhya Pradesh CM clamed that it was an effort to shield the BJP. Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said that the Centre would look into the state government's recommendation for a CBI probe only after it got the letter from the UP government.

''I have read in the newspapers today that the UP government would write to the Centre shortly seeking a CBI probe into the CD controversy...let the letter reach the government then we will look into it,'' he told reporters here during a brief interaction.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Mayawati had announced the government's decision to go for a CBI probe into the BJP's controversial CD episode, which rocked the state during the last Assembly poll.

BJP president Rajnath Singh, former leader of the opposition in the state Assembly Lalji Tandon and eight others were accused of releasing the controversial CD said to be a tool to instigate communal violence.

''We decided for the CBI probe to prevent any political allegation on the government over the sensitive nature of the case,'' Ms Mayawati said.

She however, maintained that during the Lucknow police investigation, it was found that several senior BJP leaders were involved in the release of the controversial CD.

She also categorically said that during the investigation, it was also found that the alleged CD was meant to create communal tension for gaining political mileage.

Earlier, the Lucknow police had claimed that the chargesheet was incomplete and the investigation was still in progress against 10 party leaders, including Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Tondon in connection with its release during the last Assembly election.

UNI