
The Congress on Friday demanded immediate dismissal of Lt. Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit who was arrested for his alleged involvement in Malegaon blast, even as the party sought to put the blame on the BJP for infiltrating 8220;secular institutions8221;.
8220;Prima facie, a case has been established against Lt Col Purohit as the Army has allowed the civilian administration to make further inquiry. The Army should dismiss the officer immediately. Secular character of the Army has to be maintained and that is why exemplary punishment is the need of the hour,8221; said AICC secretary Praveen Davar, who is also secretary of the AICC Ex-Servicemen Cell.
Chairman of the cell K P Singh Deo said the Armed Forces should do some 8220;serious introspection8221; on whether there was an attempt to undermine the unity of the Armed Forces or something else. 8220;It is a shocking thing how a military officer can be involved in this. In the Armed Forces, we are taught secular values,8221; he said.
Blaming the BJP and its allied organisations for trying to impose their 8220;exclusivist agenda8221; on institutions that have been the backbone of Indian democracy, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, 8220;We are proud of our Army but ashamed of the acts of omission and commission of those who seek to infiltrate, influence and convert established secular institutions for divisive agenda and ideology.8221;