BJP demands Arjun Singh's resignation

Demanding the resignation of Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh for favouring a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter, BJP said the statement was a contempt of court as the case is sub-judice.

Demanding the resignation of Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh for favouring a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter, BJP on Wednesday said the statement was a contempt of court as the case is sub-judice and made with a "sinister" motive.

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"Arjun Singh has repeatedly raised doubts on the Batla House encounter and now favoured a judicial inquiry. This is a direct attempt by the HRD minister to interfere in the judicial process. The matter is now in court and it is for the courts to take a decision," BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters.

Jaitley said Singh's statement was tantamount to contempt of court and "an interference in the administration of justice" as the matter is sub-judice.

He said when the UPA government had already conducted an inquiry and given a clean chit to the encounter, why was the HRD minister speaking against his own government.

Inspector MC Sharma laid down his life in the encounter between police and terrorists, allegedly involved in Delhi blasts, on September 19, 2008. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter.

"While the UPA government is mulling over giving Sharma a Ashok Chakra for his martyrdom, this minister is questioning the facts of the encounter. This shows it is a sinister statement made to embarrass the government," Jaitley said.

The senior leader accused Singh of helping the guilty by demanding a probe into the encounter.

Demanding Singh's resignation, the BJP leader said, "the HRD minister's statement is not only a breach of judicial propriety but also an issue of collective responsibility of the UPA government," Jaitley said.