Cong demands judicial inquiry

The Congress on Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence and arson in Asthan village last week.

Raising the issue by way of an adjournment notice in the Assembly,Pramod Tiwari of the Congress said an independent inquiry was necessary to identify the culprits. He also demanded rehabilitation of the families whose houses were burnt and who are now staying in a madrasa about 15km away. Tiwari is from Pratapgarh district.

Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya alleged negligence by local police and administration in lodging the FIR of rape. Amid shouts of jungle raj from BSP members,Maurya,who also hails from Pratapgarh,said three incidents of rape of minor girls took place in the district this month.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan assured the House that apart from the financial help already provided to the victims,the families would also be given houses with kitchen and toilet under the Lohia Awas Yojana. He kept silent on the demand for a judicial probe,saying action against local officials had already been taken by the chief minister.

Objecting to BSP MLAs shouts of jungle raj,Khan reminded them of Nighasan where a minor girl was allegedly raped and hanged inside the police station,but their government had refused to accept the demand for an independent probe.

Minister of Minor Irrigation Parasnath Yadav,who was also part of a delegation sent by the CM to Pratapgarh,spoke of a conspiracy behind the incident. He said that while the FIR of rape was delayed,the arson was the result of a conspiracy that needs to be probed by all leaders belonging to that region,including those from the Opposition. ENS

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