U C Banerjee report politically motivated - Nitish

Patna, Mar 7: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today described as politically motivated the report of the U C Banerjee Commission, constituted to probe the Godhra incident, and said the issue would disappoint the Opposition.

Making a statement on the uproar, created in the Lower House by the Opposition over a news item, published in a section of press related to the Banerjee Commission's report on Godhra, Mr Kumar said the Opposition raised the question but they lacked the courage to listen.

All such issues would not help them and ultimately they would be disappointed. He said the report had been published by quoting sources in which attempts had been made to make some remarks.

Mr Kumar said the Railway Minister in 2004 commented that he had given a written statement on it. He said the Godhra incident was probed under the provision of Railways Acts, which facilitated a probe by a Railway Safety Commission into any incident.

The CM referred to the statement of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in Parliament in 2004 and maintained that the latter's statement was not based on facts but was politically motivated.

The latest report, which was published in a section of press, was based only on sources, he said adding, " We all know what these sources mean. " Mr Kumar said if the Banerjee commission had made any comment on him, he too should be given ample opportunities to place his points.

He said the entire matter had been totally politicised.

Meanwhile, the entire Opposition created noisy scenes and said Mr Kumar should resign from his post as he was now a "tainted" person in the wake of the related news item, published in newspapers. Demanding resignation from Mr Kumar, the Opposition members staged a walk-out from the House.

Earlier, during the pre-lunch session the House had witnessed uproarious scenes and was adjourned till lunch folowing bedlam by the Opposition over the publication of the news item related to the report of the Banerjee Commission of Godhra issue.

UNI

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