New Delhi, July 26: Reacting to charges levelled by the BJP about CBI action against the Gujarat junior home minister, Mr Amit Shah, in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case being politically motivated, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Monday stoutly denied the allegation.
The Prime Minister said, “Well, there is no truth in that. The Opposition knows it jolly well. This Sohrabuddin case is a Supreme Court-directed investigation. The Central government has no hand in it.”
He further said, “It (government) has not tried to influence the investigation process in any way, I repeat categorically, in any way.”
Meanwhile, the government on Monday virtually rejected the Opposition’s demand to discuss the price rise issue under the adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha after realising that it will have to depend on the Samajwadi Party, BSP and RJD for support once again and persuade the Trinamul Congress for the same if the Opposition presses for a floor test.
The UPA allies — the Trinamul Congress and DMK — which are part of the government, are keen on a debate on this issue.
The government is on the defensive on the price rise issue, which has virtually united the entire Opposition inside Parliament. On the other hand, the Mandalite parties will not back the government “unconditionally.”
While the main Opposition BJP will be giving a notice for an adjournment motion on the rise in prices of kerosene and LPG cylinders in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Left parties are in talks with “secular” parties to corner the government in Parliament on the price situation and on Monday submitted adjournment notices to demand a discussion on the issue.