Bartering credibility : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Bartering credibility

JUNIOR Union Home Minister Kiren Rejiju is on the money when he decries interference in investigating terror-related cases.



JUNIOR Union Home Minister Kiren Rejiju is on the money when he decries interference in investigating terror-related cases. But how does one account for the amazing u-turn by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Malegaon blast case? The advent of the Modi government has coincided with several witnesses turning hostile in the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express blasts case with speculation rife that the prime accused may soon be let off. It is no one’s case that Maharashtra Police had a foolproof case against the accused in the Malegaon case that took place a few months before the Mumbai attacks. But regardless of Rejiju’s protestations, doubts arise about the government’s intentions because all the accused were linked to Hindutva organisations. 

The dropping of charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur especially rankles because of the BJP’s love for political sanyasins. In the last Lok Sabha elections, three made it on the BJP ticket to Parliament from UP alone after contaminating the campaign with their distinctive brand of communal virulence.  It is no one’s case that the MCOCA charges against Pragya and Colonel Purohit should not have been dropped. Such shortcuts in which confessions have evidentiary value with no allowance for retraction were used under TADA and POTA to fix inconvenient politicians and unrepentant separatists. 

All these aberrations and turnarounds indulged by vendors of petty politics are the country’s internal matter. But the question mark over the NIA’s integrity and honesty could cast a shadow over India’s claim of a foolproof case against Masood Azhar. India has even taken on China for casting its veto against the UN designating Azhar as a terrorist. The international community will examine the NIA’s charge of Maharashtra Police using “questionable” and “dubious” methods in the Malegaon case with a great deal of interest. Perhaps, the Supreme Court should take the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blast case probes under its wings to remove doubts about the NIA’s impartiality. This will not only give heft to India’s attempts to name Azhar as a terrorist but extradite assorted criminals accused of terrorism as well as defalcating public trust and money.

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, ‘I am named by 4 witnesse...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

MEA spokesperson says India is proud of its independent and ...

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi, backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine public trust in judiciary

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi

Backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine publi...

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Bhatt, who was sacked from the force in 2015, is already beh...


Cities

View All