Opposition accuses DF govt of shielding Azmi

Subsequently, in an identical statement made in both the Houses, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the cassette submitted by Rane has been given to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory under the Central Bureau of Investigation for verification of his (Azmi’s) voice.

"We have received three cassettes containing the statement of Azmi. We have collected some of his earlier statements too. All the cassettes have been personally handed over to the CBI by a senior official for verification of the voice. Once the report is received after 15 days, we will not hesitate to register an offence against Azmi under any section of the Indian Penal Code against him," Bhujbal said.

Bhujbal said that an offence under Section 153 (A) has already been registered against Azmi and four of his party colleagues at the J J Marg Police Station. All of them were arrested and subsequently, released on bail.

Even as Bhujbal assured the agitated members that stern action will be taken against Azmi for his alleged anti-national remarks, Opposition members resorted to intense sloganeering prompting Speaker Arun Gujarathi to adjourn the House for a brief period.

After the House reassembled, Rane and BJP leader Munde alleged that even before the receipt of the report from the CBI, it was within the jurisdiction of the government to register an offence against Azmi under Section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged nati-national remarks. "The government has powers to register an offence and let Azmi prove that he is innocent in the court," Rane said.

Rane alleged that the Congress-led Democratic Front government was deliberately shielding the Samajwadi Party leader since his party is one of the constituents of the Front. "I feel that it was completely wrong on the part of the government to submit the cassettes to the CBI. There was no propriety. All this has been done to save the Samajwadi Party leader," Rane pointed out.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde said that it was the responsibility of the police to collect evidence against Azmi, but it has failed in its duty. "The main job of the police is to gather evidence. On the contrary, evidence given by us has been submitted to the CBI," Munde said.

In fact, Munde said, on the basis of Azmi’s utterances and "since he is involved in so many cases, he should have been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act," Munde said.

When Rane, Munde, former Speaker Datta Nalawade and former industries minister Leeladhar Dake alleged that the government was shielding Azmi owing to inefficiency of the Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker Arun Gujarathi asked Bhujbal to make a specific statement on the Opposition demand.

Subsequently, on the statement of Bhujbal that the government will book him under the appropriate provisions of law and intervention of Gujarathi that he will personally ensure that appropriate action is taken, the agitated Opposition turned their attention to other issues.