Cong endorses demand for CBI probe into VHP role in terrorism

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) The Congress today endorsed the demand for a CBI probe into the role of VHP and Bajrang Dal in terrorism and bomb culture to clamp a ban on such organisations, expressing the hope that the Centre and the states would consider the issue seriously and take the right steps.

There have been demands from state governments and other organisations for a CBI probe and people had faith in the CBI, AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.

There have been reports about the involvement of the VHP and Bajrang Dal in arson, loot and murder in Orissa and the Naveen Pattnaik government in that state was unable to take firm action due to pressure from the BJP, the Congress spokesman said.

It was a serious issue that even the media had begun asking questions about the necessity of probing the activities of organisations suspected of involvement in flaring up communal feelings, he pointed out.

The BJP had to be faulted for its role in Jammu and Kashmir also as it wanted to take political mileage from the land row issue relating to the Amarnath yatris by keeping the issue alive.

The proposed talks with the Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti had been postponed just by a day till tomorrow due to the indisposition of the Governor's aide and not that there was a deliberate move on the part of the administration as alleged by the BJP, he said.

Asked about the meetings of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil and his demand for the revival of POTA, the Congress spokesman said the draconian anti-terror law failed to check the attacks on Akshardham and Raghunath temples and Parliament.

The spokesman said his party welcomed the flood relief measures announced by Dr Singh after visiting Bihar yesterday.

UNI SH/SN RP AS1725