'Attempts to politicise police probe in Koregaon-Bhima cases'

The Maharashtra government's reported move to withdraw criminal cases related to the Koregaon Bhima incident was on Wednesday raised in Rajya Sabha by a BJP MP, who faced protests from Left parties when he sought to draw a parallel with a similar move in Kerala.

During the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao said there are "attempts to politicise" police investigation in some cases that pose threat to national security.

He said investigation and revelations in the Koregaon Bhima case have shaken the entire country, and some of the people arrested in the case have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

"But there are certain demands being now made purely political in nature to bail out people who have been arrested (under UAPA).

"This clearly shows there is an attempt to politicise," he said, and urged the central government to advise state governments not to compromise on national security.

Rao then tried to sought to draw a parallel with a similar case in Kerala, ruled by the Left Democratic Front.

Left party MPs, Elamaram Kareem, Binoy Viswam and K K Rajesh, protested vociferously.

But before this, Chairman M Venkaiaha Naidu had asked Rao not to name any political party