National

Brinda Karat flays Congress, NCP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the recent developments in the Khairlanji killings case, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) hasallegedthat political parties, including the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, have not shown the will to take action in the case.

"The concern arises because charge sheets have been filed against only 11 persons enabling 23 persons, including two of the main accused, to get bail. Shockingly, within two days of their release on bail the accused organised an offensive, drum-beating, victory celebration outside the house of the key eyewitness in the Khairlanji killings, Sidharth Gajbhaye," party Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Meets Patil

She had met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and urged immediate State and Central intervention since there was a threat to Mr. Gajbhaye and his family and to take steps to prevent the occurrence of another Khairlanji, she said. "What can two policemen do to protect an eyewitness when a mob attacks."

Charging that parties such as the NCP were not interested since Dalits consisted of only three per cent of population in the area, Ms. Karat said the State has not yet implemented the demand for a speedy inquiry through a special court. Even a request by Mr. Gajbhaye to appoint his special prosecutor, a well-known Dalit lawyer, Shashi Bhushan Wahane, had not been accepted.

Mr. Gajbhaye, who was present at the press conference, said that he was suspended from his police post on a "trumped up one-year-old case."

Ms. Karat said the Home Minister had assured her that appropriate action would be taken.

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