Sadhvi's demand for probe into her torture justified: SP

New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) A day after Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav came out in support of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, the party's Delhi unit today echoed his sentiment, saying the sadhvi was not a terrorist and her demand for a probe into her persecution which it described as a travesty of justice was justified.

Addressing a news conference here, SP Delhi unit president Shyam Gambhir said anybody, unless convicted by court, was innocent and the sadhvi also cannot be deemed as a terror element unless proved otherwise.

''If the police have proof then they must it bring forward on the basis of which she could be convicted by court. Until then, she cannot be termed a terrorist,'' he added.

''Allegations will keep cropping up, but unless proved no one can be branded otherwise. If she has demanded a probe, it should be conducted,'' he emphasised.

Reiterating that the party condemned all forms of terror whether it was by any community or person, the SP leader said, '' We never levelled any allegations or charges against the sadhvi.'' ''We demand a fair investigation be conducted into this episode, like the way we did into the Batla House shootout. Why should any doubt remain about any incident in anybody's mind'' he continued, adding that any judicial probe which satisfies all be initiated at the earliest.

On Jamia Millia Islamia University Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan offering legal aid to the shoot-out accused, Mr Gambhir said he supported the move and his party itself offered them financial assistance.

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