Alleging that the Mehar Bhargava murder case had a "political side", former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday called for a CBI inquiry into the matter as also imposition of President's rule in Uttar Pradesh in view of the "deteriorating" law and order situation.
"There should be no hesitation on the part of the state government to recommend a CBI inquiry into the killing," Vajpayee told reporters in Lucknow after offering his condolences to the bereaved family.
"There is political pressure in this case, an attempt to cover up. A political shadow is there on the killing. The culprits have political connections," he alleged.
He said the UP Government, for reasons best known to itself, "hesitates in recommending CBI probe but there should be an exception" in this case.
Expressing serious concern at the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Vajpayee said his party had in the past also demanded dismissal of the state government.