UP rejects opposition demand of CBI probe in Mehar case

Lucknow, Mar 27 (UNI) Even as Uttar Pradesh rejected the united opposition's demand for a CBI probe into the Meher Bhargava case, the Congress today walked out of the state assembly to protest the state government's attitude.

The Congress members, followed by the BSP, and BJP demanded the case be referred to the CBI, since some mafia-turned-politicians were behind the incident.

Rejecting the demand for a CBI probe, state parliamentary affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan said already two people had been arrested in the case, while some others would be taken in custody soon.

''Government is very sensitive on the issue and the chief minister himself has taken strong attention of the incident,'' he said.

Raising the issue through an adjournament motion during zero hour, Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari claimed the governmnent was not sincere and the assailants were roaming free due to their nexus with high-ups in the ruling SP.

Congress member Luis Khurshid, in an emotional speech, said it was unfortunate the government was sitting idle on the case when the incident occurred in front of the Lucknow SSP's residence.

Later, the entire Congress bench staged a noisy walkout from the house to protest the rejection of their demand of CBI probe into the incident.

Ms Bhargava, a former lawyer and wife of Congress leader Luv Bhargava, was shot at and critically wounded by two criminals in the busy Hazratganj area here on February 28 when she objected to lewd remarks passed by the duo on her daughter-in-law.

She was partially paralysed following the bullet wound and breathed her last at a Delhi hospital on Saturday.

UNI MB VS VD PC1746