BJP trying to save RSS leaders: AAP on Malegaon chargesheet

A day after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya and five other accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said the BJP-led central government was trying to "save" the RSS and its leaders.

"Ever since BJP has come to power it has made several attempts at saving terror accused belonging to radical Hindu organisations such as RSS and its cadres," AAP leader Ashish Khetan said.

He further said that by dropping Sadhvi Pragya's name from the chargesheet of Malegaon blast case and calling "martyr" Hemant Karkare's investigation "dubious", the NIA has insulted him.

"While other senior police officers were hiding inside the headquarter, Hemant Karkare went out, fought the terrorists and achieved martyrdom. By calling his probe report dubious, NIA has insulted Karkare", he added.

He added that it was shameful for the country and the NIA must apologise for it.

Khetan also alleged that when the Mecca Masjid blast case was transferred to NIA from CBI, the latter in its internal report had mentioned that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadres and its top leaders were involved in terror activities and that it must be probed.

"The CBI had suggested to take action against some RSS leaders. It was also supposed to arrest RSS leader Indresh Kumar but the case was transferred. The NIA has slowly weakened terror cases against radical Hindu leaders," Khetan said.

The NIA on Friday gave a clean chit to Malegaon blast key accused Sadhvi and five others, paving the way for their early release from prison.

--IANS

av/rn/bg