NEW DELHI: The murder of Sharada Prasad Rawat Janata Dal leader and former U.P. minister shook the Lok Sabha for the third day Wednesday as the former Prime Minister V.P Singh joined forces with Ram Vilas Paswan during zero hour and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. Paswan dubbing it as a “political murder” wanted the home minister to make a statement on the floor of the House. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed a brief uproar over this issue with the Janata Dal members raising slogans against the Uttar Pradesh government.

As soon as Paswan raised the issue there were vehement protests from BJP benches matched by vociferous shouts from the Janata Dal members. Paswan was repeatedly interrupted when he tried to read a letter which the victim is said to have written to the Gorakhpur police superintendent a month before his murder. He had demanded police protection as he feared for his life.

The letter quoted Rawat as saying “I was a candidate in the Lok Sabha election against Mahant Avaidyanath (BJP MP.) I have learnt that two persons have been put after me to kill me myself and my family members should be provided security”.

BJP members jumped to their feet at this and nothing could be heard in the acrimonious exchanges which ensued.

V.P Singh rose to inform the House that the slain leader’s son had handed over a copy of the letter to him Singh had visited the family Tuesday. He added that police officers had informed the victim that protection would be extended to him only. They only pay Rs 4000 a month to cover the security expenses.

UPGOVTALLEGATION: Janata Dal members alleged that the BJP governments in the state had turned a blind eye to the security of its political opponents. Singh said that first “a bomb was thrown at the house later a group of people came and fired. The culprits were not afraid of being caught.” The inference made was that the murderers could get away with impunity as the state government was not serious about protecting the lives of its political opponents. Singh also mentioned that he had received a letter from his party colleague and fellow member Rajnath Sonkar Saswri alleging that the BJP member Uma Bharati had threatened to kill him and see his body in the burning ghats of Varanasi. According to Sastri the threat was issued in the presence of the deputy home minister Ram Lal Rahi. The minister was not in the House when this was said.

Singh was immediately interrupted by vehement protests from the BJP members. For several moments nothing could be heard. Finally senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh persuaded his colleagues to stop shouting and asked for permission to speak.

Singh who was listened to respectfully by the House condemned the murder of Rawat and pointed out that the leader of the opposition L.K.Advani had also done so Tuesday. He however felt that the Lok Sabha was not the forum to raise issues connected with the government of U.P. He reminded the House that the BJP government in UP was not functioning on anyone’s charity it had received the mandale the people and had the right to administer the state. The Lok Sabha could not be turned into an “inquisition chamber” to rap the U.P. government.

Singh regretted the fact that a senior leader and former Prime Minister was making “irresponsible” statements in the House. He said it was unthinkable thata young girl (referring to Uma Bharati who was sitting next to him) could be accused of attempting to murder another member He added that “this House cannot sit in judgment over the functioning of the States”.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 20, 1991