Statement based on Vohra panel report: Rane

Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has played safe on the comment he made on the 26/11 terror attacks in December last year. He had said that there was a nexus between politicians and the terrorists.

Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has played safe on the comment he made on the 26/11 terror attacks in December last year. He had said that there was a nexus between politicians and the terrorists.

He has now told the Bombay High Court that they were not his comments but he had only quoted from the report of Vohra Committee constituted to probe criminalisation of politics nationally. Rane’s affidavit does not explain the connection between the Vohra Committee report and 26/11.

After his statement, a public interest litigation was filed by a Solapur-based activist Purshottam Barde seeking that the minister should be asked to disclose his source of information and names of the politicians.

Rane, in his reply, has said that the PIL needs to be dismissed as two similar petitions were disposed of by the high court. “I had pointed out that my statement was made on the basis of Vohra Committee report,” states Rane’s affidavit.

“I had the copy of the report with me when I made the statement in the press conference,” adds Rane’s affidavit. He said his statements were ‘extracts’ of the report.

He alleged that Barde is trying to portray that Rane knew the names of the politicians. The petition is likely to come up for hearing next week.