Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100760511000.htm

National

Congress leaders apprise PM of Jamia Nagar unease

Vidya Subrahmaniam

New Delhi: Three Congress leaders met Manmohan Singh on Saturday to convey their unease over the September 19 encounter at Jamia Nagar here that killed two alleged terrorists and injured a third. Dr. Singh promised them that he would reflect on their suggestion for an inquiry into the incident, and said he would hold consultations on the issue.

Earlier last week, Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, party general secretary Digvijay Singh and senior leader Salman Khursheed met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Disclosing this to The Hindu, Mr. Khursheed said the push for the meeting with Dr. Singh came from Ms. Gandhi, who, he said, appeared “very anguished” at the feedback she was getting on the impact of the encounter on Muslims. She was “already aware” of the unrest at Jamia Nagar and was informed of the questions the encounter raised, he said.

“We went as insiders to counsel, urge and request,” Mr. Khursheed said.

The leaders made it clear to the Congress chief that they were not holding a brief for those killed, indeed that it was not for them to judge whether or not those killed were terrorists. However, they impressed upon her the need for transparency and accountability in police conduct.

Mr. Khursheed said the team members apprised Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi of the sense of injustice among Muslims over the Jamia incidents. Mr. Khursheed said the demand for an inquiry did not emanate independently from the team but was a reflection of what it saw and heard when it visited Jamia Nagar: “There is unanimity among Muslims that there should be an inquiry into the encounter.”

Mr. Khursheed asked why the police did not record the encounter on camera. “Had they taken photographers with them and released the footage there would have been no questions asked about the encounter.”

Mr. Khursheed said there was disquiet building up among the people over the bomb blasts. At the same time, there was also disquiet over the “excessive police” action taken pursuant to the blasts. “Both perceptions are very, very real. However, the Congress cannot appear to respond to one and not [to] the other. You want protection against terrorist attacks. You also want to be assured that people will not be randomly picked up for the attacks.”

Mr. Khursheed brushed aside the suggestion that to question the police was to undermine the force. He said there were any number of cases in which the police had gone wrong.