Congress hits out at Advani

Congress took strong exception to senior BJP leader L K Advani coming to the defence of Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blasts, saying such remarks complicated the issue.

Congress on Thursday took strong exception to senior BJP leader L K Advani coming to the defence of Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blasts, saying such remarks complicated the issue.

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"It is very strange that the head of a political party takes up such issues concerning a terror accused," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

Every terror-accused levels charges of manhandling and high-handedness, but there is no reason for a head of a political party to support the accused, he said.

"It (Advani's remarks) complicates the issue," Singhvi said.

Every allegation by the accused, physical and medical, have been gone into by the court and has been verified. "Court has gone into each allegation and found them to be untrue," he said.

Asked whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had talked to Advani on this issue, the Congress spokesman said he was not aware of any such development.

These allegations can never be a reason for a political party to politicise or communalise the issue, Singhvi said.

Advani had demanded a judicial inquiry into allegations of torture made by Pragya Singh Thakur against Maharashtra ATS.

The Leader of the Opposition said he was shocked and outraged over the "barbaric treatment" meted out to the Sadhvi and had accused the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of acting in a politically motivated and unprofessional manner.