Cong playing minority politics with terror?

The Congress is back to playing the minority card with All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh claiming that 2008 Batla House encounter in Delhi was fake. Although a day later the congress leader has retracted his stand, the Opposition has its ammunition for attacking the Congress on minority appeasement. CNN-IBN spoke to the AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on India at 9.

CNN-IBN: Mr Digvijay Singh you went to Azamgarh and raised doubts over the September 2008 Batla House encounter. You have done this despite the fact that the National Human Rights Commission gave a clean chit to the Delhi Police last year. So why have you raised this issue now all of a sudden?

Digvijay Singh: You are absolutely wrong. I have been saying the same thing over and over again. The picture which was shown to us, which had five bullets in the top of the head of one of the person which I think is impossible in an encounter. Anyway, we raised this issue with the honourable Prime Minister, he ordered an enquiry with the human rights commission.

CNN-IBN: What exactly is your problem here and aren't you ignoring MC Sharma's sacrifice? After all a police officer died during the encounter.

Digvijay Singh: The NHRC completed the investigation, but the aggrieved party said they were not called for their opinion or they were not given a hearing - so that's my only problem. As far as Mr Sharma is concerned he is a very fine officer and we've got greatest regard and respect for him.

CNN-IBN: You said in Azamgarh that there should be a reprobe? You said that you don’t know whether the encounter was fake or not?

Digvijay Singh: Don't form your opinion. What I've said in Azamgarh. I've never asked whether there should be enquiry or whether they should be let-off. I've said that what they deserve is a speedy trial, whoever is a culprit must be punished, but who is innocent must be released immediately. What I am asking for is a speedy trial.

CNN-IBN: So that means that you are casting aspersion on the probe done by the NHRC? They gave a clean chit to the Delhi police after all?

Digvijay Singh: I am not casting aspersions on anyone, but I am not an investigating officer, I've not investigated the case, how can I say whether it is fake or correct. NHRC has given a clean chit, at the same time the aggrieved party feels that they have not been given a hearing, they should have been given the hearing.

CNN-IBN: Why does Digvijay Singh all of a sudden go to Azamgarh and play with the sentiments of the Muslim community?

Digvijay Singh: You must also understand why Azamgarh which has been a center of culture and literature, how it has become a center for all these things. You must also understand the psyche of the people who have been arrested. There are cases of one boy who has 55 cases registered in 4 provinces.

CNN-IBN: So are you saying that the young Muslim boys of Azamgarh who have been arrested over the years in terror related cases are innocent? That they have been falsely implicated and arrested?

Digvijay Singh: Who said that? Don’t put words in my mouth. I have never said he is innocent or guilty. What I am asking for is a speedy trial.

CNN-IBN: But aren’t you playing minority politics here? The opposition has accused you of playing vote bank politics, you are going to minority areas and calling arrested youth innocent?

Digvijay Singh: Who said that? I have never said anyone is innocent. If I am doing Muslim politics, why is the Ulema council opposing me? On one side the Ulema council is opposing me, on the other side RSS, BJP, VHP is opposing me. I am just saying please give them a fair and speedy trial. That’s all.

CNN-IBN: What is your grouse with the NHRC...is it the way the probe has been done?

Digvijay Singh: See I've only asked that time for a fair enquiry and the fair enquiry was conducted at that time by the NHRC. My only grouse with the NHRC is that the aggrieved party should have been given a hearing.That’s all.

CNN-IBN: Aren’t you appeasing the Muslim community and encouraging minority versus majority politics? Isn’t this dangerous?

Digvijay Singh: It is the responsibility of the majority community in this country to give a sense of confidence and belonging to the minorities, otherwise you'll have a problem on your hands. Please for gods sake understand the sensitivity of the whole thing. If educated engireering, MBA graduates feel that they are being discriminated against and if they lose confidence in the establishment and parliamentary democracy and judiciary of this country, you will have a problem on your hands.

CNN-IBN: Just as you condemn the Bajrang Dal, will you also condemn the SIMI? Why not condemn the SIMI with equal force?

Digvijay Singh: No not at all. I have been dealing with Hindu fundamentalists and Muslim fundamentalists both. I was the first man in the country who when Chief Minister demanded a ban on SIMI and Bajrang Dal, I was the first man in this country who brought the Hindu fanatic cases in the front where we had cases where VHP and RSS activists threw bombs in Mau and they accepted the fact.

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