Madhya Pradesh: Congress leader stands up for Bajrang Dal activist

Indian Express



Congress leader stands up for Bajrang Dal activist
by Milind Ghatwai

Jul 24, 2009 at 0325 hrs Bhopal:

A Congress MLA has taken up cudgels on behalf of a Sangh Parivar activist allegedly involved in riots in Mahidpur town of Ujjain. One of the most vocal politicians in the state, Kalpana Parulekar on Thursday claimed Bajrang Dal leader Pankaj Yadav was innocent and was himself a victim of police atrocities in jail. The police said Yadav faced a string of criminal cases and was involved in communal riots that rocked Mahidpur this March. He was arrested on March 6.

Parulekar wrote to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alleging that Yadav was beaten up on March 11 by cops in the presence of then Ujjain SP Manmeet Singh Narang. “It makes no difference to me that he is a member of the Parivar. I am only highlighting police atrocities,” she said.

“I have no issue with Sangh Parivar leaders. The only reason I approached the Congress MLA because she is very vocal,” Yadav said. But the BJP is embarrassed. “I still can’t believe he approached her. He is very much a part of the Parivar,” said Ujjain (rural) president Madan Sakhla.