NEW DELHI ((PTI): President of Rightwing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr.Murli Manohar Joshi, who was discharged from hospital March 1, said there was a conspiracy to attack him and top party leaders during its Feb.25 rally.
Police action on BJP realists was deliberate with ulterior motives and top leaders were made targets, Dr.Joshi told newsmen after reaching his residence.
BJP, the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha (Lower House), had planned a rally for Feb.25, demanding among other things, midterm polls, and elections to four dismissed BJP state governments and lifting of ban on three of its supporting Organizations.
The Center banned the rally pointing to the communally charged atmosphere.
BJP, however, tried to go ahead with the rally but heavy police arrangement foiled its attempt.
Dr.Joshi was injured in the police action on that day.
He told newsmen that besides him, senior leaders like L.K.Advani and M.L.Khurana were also made targets “as part of the conspiracy.”
Earlier in Lok Sabha, the movement turned down the BJP’s demand for removal of capital’s police commissioner M.B. Kaushal.
Responding to the persistent demand by the BJP members for a Statement on the alleged excesses and misbehavior of the police with party parliamentarians and workers, which also led to the adjournment of the house, home minister $.B.Chavan said “T feel regretful if anything
Has gone wrong. We do not make differences between one member and the other and we are not in favor of ill treatment to any member.”
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha speaker Shivraj Patil assured the BJP that he would look into their demands concerning the alleged beating of party parliamentarians on Feb.25. BJP Parliamentarians Jaswant Singh and Vijay Raje Scindia said that they had met the speaker in this regard and he had given them the assurance.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 5, 1993
