'Pratibha owes explanation to disturbing questions : BJP

New Delhi, Jun 23 (UNI) A day after NDA promised not to raise personal issues with UPA Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil, the BJP today sought a personal explanation from her regarding the murder of a district Congress functionary in Jalgoan and about a cooperative bank declaring her a defaulter.

BJP Spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told newspersons pointing at the chronology and events which proves show that the Congress leadership was aware of the case and yet she was chosen for the top job because besides loyalty to 'Gandhi family', she was also in a vulnerable position to sign any proclamation on the dotted lines.

The Aurangabad Bench of the Mumbai High Court had ordered a CBI investigation into the murder of Mr V G Patil, the then President of Jalgoan District Congress Committee on September 2005 in which his widow Rajni Patil had named Pratibha Patil's brother Dr G N Patil and Dr Ullhas Patel as 'key conspirators'. On April 4, 2007, a CBI team visited Jalgoan and interrogated Mrs Rajni Patil and on the same day Raju Mali, the principal assissin died in police custody in mysterious circumstances. "Was this coincidence or was it an attempt to supress the evidence"? Mr Prasad asked.

He said all these events had happened even before Mrs Patil was considered for the post of Presidentship and it was only fair that Mrs Patil who is seeking to occupy the highest constitutional post explains her side of the story to the nation.

He said it was a fact that widow of the Jalgoan Congressman did not get justice through a fair investigation and there was no formal questioning of the people named by the widow of the victim for 21 long months until the Court took into cognisance.

Mr Prasad said it was during Mrs Patil's chairmanship, the Mukta Bai Sugar factory took a loan of Rs five crore in 1994-96 and the cooperative did not pay back even the interest amount and the total money the unit owed had mounted to Rs 17.70 crore. Mrs Patil is a life member of the cooperative which is run by her brother G N Patil.

Mr Prasad said all MPs and MLAs are required to submit all the cases pending against them to determine their antecedents before the Election Commission. It is therefore required that Mrs Patil too submits all the facts before the constitutional body as the country could not affored to have a President who has played around with the public money.

Asked if the BJP would be submitting its views before the EC, Mr Prasad said no such decision is taken. We only want Mrs Patil to publicly explain her side of the story. He also evaded questions concerning the holding of press conference at Akali Dal leader S S Dhindsa's house yesterday. "You are asking questions to wrong people, but the facts speaks for themselves", He remarked.

UNI