The Hindu : Sharmas' daughters join issue with Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 17, 2002

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National

Sharmas' daughters join issue with Advani

By Rajesh Ahuja

CHANDIGARH AUG. 16. Joining issue with the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, the two daughters of Ravi Kant Sharma — Komal and Pragati — in a statement late tonight demanded a CBI inquiry into murder of Shivani Bhatnagar, Indian Express correspondent. Their father is the prime suspect in the case.

In a signed statement, they questioned Mr. Advani's assertion that the investigation by the Delhi police was going in the "right direction". They charged that the entire case of the Delhi police was based on confessional statements got by torturing people — not admissible in a court of law — and phone call records.

They said that Mr. Advani's statement against their mother Madhu Sharma was `malicious'. They ridiculed the `clean chit' given by Mr. Advani to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, and the `corrupt' Delhi police, and said this was unheard of anywhere in the world. Asserting that they would lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, they said Mr. Advani had displayed a "blatant disregard for human rights, civil liberties and the law of the land". Mr. Mahajan was not above the law. Mr. Advani's assertions proved that there was much more at stake than what met the eye. They reiterated their allegation that the Delhi police were "framing their father at the behest of vested interests".

Earlier, Madhu Sharma, who on Thursday accused Mr. Mahajan of involvement in the murder case, today refused to meet mediapersons, especially the electronic media, camping outside the family's residence in Sector 6 of Panchkula near here. Pragati claimed that her mother was "indisposed'' and would not be able to meet anyone for the next couple of days.When this correspondent contacted the Sharmas' residence over phone, one of the daughters said: "We are very busy and we are going out. Call later in the night. There is no development.'' The Sharmas are feeling "hounded'' by the large presence of TV crews and reporters sitting outside their house in vehicles until late at night. The neighbours are serving tea and snacks to the presspersons.

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