Activists Promise Facts While Arjun, Jaitley Debate...

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) Two activist groups tonight announced a fact-finding report on a shootout following serial blasts even as politicians debated the propriety of a university giving legal aid to two students arrested in this connection.

The announcement said a team of members of Janhastakshep and People's Union for Democratic Rights visited the shootout spot to get the facts.

''Janhastakshep and PUDR will be releasing a fact finding report on the alleged encounter at Jamia Nagar,'' said an e-invitation by retired college principal N K Bhattacharya.

The announcement came as Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh threw his support behind a Jamia Millia Islamia move to give legal aid to two students arrested following the serial blasts.

Singh saw ''nothing wrong'' in the university providing such legal aid -- a move Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and former Law Minister Arun Jaitley dubbed unacceptable.

Ministry spokesmen earlier offered no comment on opposition pronouncements against the move and demands to dismiss the VC.

Singh's support of JMI's announcement came after he heard vice chancellor Mushirul Hasan and told reporters ''the decision...

is in the interest of the nation.'' Another member of the United Progressive Alliance, Ram Vilas Paswan pointed to the principle of innocence until proven guilty.

Published accounts quoted him as saying, ''we... cannot declare them guilty till the court decision comes.'' UNI MJ SBA UCS0144