Rupchand Pal of the Communist Party of India-Marxist has rejected the Bhartiya Janata Party's demand of a judicial probe into Sunday's attack, allegedly by the workers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP followers, in which leaders of both sides were injured.
While speaking on the violent incident, a leader of the BJP had said on the floor of the Lok Sabha that his party was ready for a judicial probe or even a joint probe by Parliamentarians to establish the truth.
"Why have a judicial probe when the police have ended the matter and there were journalists present on the scene who witnessed the entire episode. There is no question of accepting the BJP's offer," Pal said while addressing a press conference on Monday afternoon.
He claimed that even the partners of National Democratic Alliance had condemned the incident.
He denied that his party had committed any atrocities on BJP workers in Kerala. BJP leader V K Malhotra had charged the CPI-M of killing five BJP followers. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee disallowed the comment to go on record and directed all members to restrict themselves to the incident in New Delhi.
"It was a premeditated attack on the CPI-M where we were holding a meeting of our Central Committee to discuss our response on various issues. It is unfortunate that L K Advani, leader of opposition who has been designated for prime ministership, has not said a word about the pre-meditated attack," Pal said.
BJP responds: Former BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu distributed leaflets during a press conference on Monday to establish the ruthlessness of the CPM and the kind of violence the latter had unleashed against those who did not fall in line with their line of thinking.
He alleged that CPM leaders, particularly Prakash Karat and Sitram Yechuri, had instigated the attack on the peaceful demonstration. Naidu also pointed out the number of the times the CPM had attacked the BJP national headquarters.
"If you see the television footage, you would find that the attack on BJP workers was conducted from inside. If BJP had to do it, then we have enough strength to muster 25,000 people in the capital," said BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
