BJP today said that the Batla House encounter verdict has vindicated its stand that the incident was not "fake" and hit out at the Congress for playing "rank votebank politics" on the issue of terror.
The opposition party particularly targeted Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who had claimed that the encounter was fake, and said he should now accept his mistake and that he made a false statement.
"Today's verdict in the Batla House encounter case is assuring in the fight against terror. A brave police officer was killed in the encounter yet a consistent campaign was undertaken that the encounter was fake. Even some Congress minister complained to the government about the case," BJP Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told PTI.
Referring to Digvijay Singh, Prasad said a Congress general secretary had even gone to Azamgarh- to meet family members of the terrorists who lived in Batla House here- to question the veracity of the encounter.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi also attacked Singh on this issue. "Congress leaders keep giving fraudulent statements. It was obviously playing votebank politics on the issue. Digvijay Singh should accept now that he made a mistake and say that he made a false statement," he said.
When asked about the reported remarks of Singh that RSS offices are used for training in bomb making, Joshi said, "Even after the court verdict today he has not learnt that he should speak the truth. He should make an effort to tell the facts."
The party also referred to the tweet of another Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed that Indian Mujahideen was formed as a reaction to the 2002 riots. The terrorists involved in the Batla House encounter were from IM.
"This verdict is a reminder that terrorists kill with impunity regardless of religion and faith and the country needs to be united. Those Congress leaders who are trying to justify the rise of Indian Mujahideen also need to learn the right lessons," Prasad said.
