BJP fights move for panel status

‘‘We know that they — Laloo (Prasad Yadav) and the Congress — are very happy with Banerjee and want to reward him. But we are not going to keep quiet, we will take steps,’’ BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

While the Shah-Nanavati Committee, set up by the Gujarat Government, has a wider perspective, sources say the Banerjee Committee will concentrate on the Godhra incident alone. And that’s why the Government is certain that the Opposition’s threat would not hold good in the court. Also, the hindrances faced by Banerjee during the probe (till the interim report was made public) can be eradicated if the committee under him is accorded the status of a probe panel. ‘‘That would give him access to government files and his summons to officials, including to the state security personnel, cannot be ignored,’’ the sources added.

Naqvi did not specify whether his party is planning to approach the court right away and says, ‘‘let them come out with the notification’’.

The Government is not just waiting for the three state elections to get over, sources say, the notification can only be issued after the term of the committee gets over in March.