Phoolan killing: Advani plea to parties

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 31. The killing of the Samajwadi Party MP, Phoolan Devi, has highlighted the canker of criminalisation of politics afflicting the country's democracy, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said here today.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on Phoolan Devi's murder, Mr. Advani pleaded to political parties ``neither to encourage, directly or indirectly, any kind of association with criminal elements nor to succumb to the temptation of trying to derive political mileage when unfortunate incidents take place.''

Reminding the parties that the issue of criminalisation of politics had been discussed several times in the past, he said: ``time has come to transform our common concern into a strong all-party consensus and an effective antidote to this cancerous phenomenon.''

He denied allegations that the security provided to Phoolan Devi had been downgraded. She was given round-the-clock security and the Uttar Pradesh Government had also provided an armed police personnel for her security.

``Phoolan Devi's life reflected the social realities of contemporary India. But hers was also a life that showed the inner struggles of a woman who wanted to transcend her past,'' Mr. Advani said.

The Home Minister said that Phoolan Devi was hit by six bullets from close range. Four persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing. Investigations revealed that two cars were used for the committing the crime and both the vehicles belonged to Sher Singh Rana, who is in police custody.

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