‘Swift trial in Batla case’

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha,he noted the Batla House incident has evoked extreme reactions. He said he has assured all those who have met him in connection with the case that he will make sure the trial is conducted as quickly as possible.

Samajwadi Party’s Kamal Akhtar wanted to know whether the Centre will have the incidents of terrorist attacks in cities like Delhi and Mumbai probed at the same level as that of the Ajmer and Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blasts. He also referred to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in this connection,which triggered angry protests from BJP members.

Amid the ruckus,Chidambaram said it will be ensured that the probe by central investigating agencies are conducted “fairly and impartially without bias”.

“We will only prosecute those against whom we find convincing and substantial evidence. If at any stage we find that the evidence is not sufficient… we will not hesitate to withdraw those names from the prosecution (list),” he said.

Chidambaram also parried Akhtar’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Batla House case. The Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have already declined a writ petition seeking an independent judicial inquiry into the episode,he said.