Police demoralised to see Cong demanding probe into Batla encounter

New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) Rueing the ''blind race'' by political parties to gather minority sympathy over the 'Batla House' encounter, the BJP today said it was surprised to see thed Congress ''hankering the most'' for a probe into the incident despite its rule in the state and its own police involved in it.

Addressing the media, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate V K Malhotra said the most surprising aspect of this shameful invocation was to see the Congress being the most vociferous in demanding a probe into the September 19 Jamia Nagar encounter with several of its top leaders meeting the Prime Minister on the issue.

''Mohsina Kidwai, Ahmad Patel, Kapil Sibal had all called the Prime Minister to come out clean on the emcounter in which two terrorists of the Indian Mujahideen were killed and a Delhi Police Inspector lost his life.'' Even as most parties, whether under Mulayam, Lalu or Mayawati leadership, were rushing to grab the limelight and win the sympathy of minorities by slapping baseless accusations on the conduct of police, the BJP, he said, was shocked to find the Congress hankering the most to hog the attention.

''This was despite the fact that it was ruling in Delhi, there was its own Congress-led government at the Centre and its own police involved in the encounter that also led to the death of one of its most shining and promising officials,'' Mr Malhotra said.

Instead of highlighting the sacrifice of Inspector Mohan Chandra Sharma, which could inspire others to fight against terrorism, the Congress was trying to win the coming elections by riding on the sympathy gathered by those harbouring 'jehadi mentality', he told mediapersons.

''It is because of this glorification of jehadis that Delhi was living under the shadow of fear and because of this any new terror attack would entirely be the responsibility of the Sheila Dikshit government.'' This game of politics had actually demoralised the police force which was feeling let down despite sacrificing its personnel in the fight against terrorism, Mr Malhotra added.

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