Advani dividing Army, police: Cong

New Delhi : As the BJP raised questions about the authenticity of Malegaon blast investigations with BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani attributing it to political leadership, the Congress launched a counter-attack accusing him of driving a "wedge between the Army and police" and making political interference in investigations. The Congress also called Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a "menace" to internal security.

Seeking to validate the revelations made by Lt Col Prasad Purohit during interrogation, AICC media cell chairperson M Veerappa Moily said the Army had deputed a senior Colonel to accompany the arrested Army officer and he was present throughout the interrogation of Purohit.

Replying to a question about the revelations made by the arrested Army officer, Advani had told reporters in Indore on Monday, "These are things related to political leadership, not to the agency." Rebutting his charges, Moily said here on Tuesday, "When Muslim outfits were arrested, there was a huge demand for enforcing POTA; none of the Central or state politicians interfered. The first political interference of a politician is from Advani."

Vouching for the neutrality and objectivity of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the senior Congress leader said the ATS detected 13 cases of Terror in the past four years in which it arrested 75 persons, including 24 Hindus and 51 Muslims. Eleven of the Hindus are connected with Malegaon case, said Moily. The other cases are related to Nanded, Peruwani and Jalna.