Patna: The police firing at Forbesganj was a
'mere clash between policemen and locals' and the issue should
not be given 'communal colour', BJP national spokesman Syed
Shahnawaz Hussain said on Tuesday.
The incident was 'unfortunate' and the judicial panel
set up by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to probe it should
submit its report early, Hussain told reporters here after his
visit to the firing site in Bhajanpur village where he met the
families of the firing victims yesterday.
''The state government should, however, ensure that
action is taken in conformity with the report of the panel it
receives in due course of time,''
Asked what prevented NDA ministers from visiting the
affected village, though several opposition party leaders,
including AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and LJP supremo
Ramvilas Paswan met the relatives of the victims, Hussain said
his visit there was at the directive of the BJP president
Nitin Gadkari.
Besides, the NDA government of Nitish Kumar had already
promised to ensure justice to the victims and the state
government had already paid Rs 3 lakh compensation to the kin
of one of the deceased.
Payment of compensation to other victims would be
considered once the probe report was received.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's visit to Forbesganj,
Hussain said everybody had the right to visit any place.
Four people were killed and scores of others injured in
the June 3 firing and clash between securitymen and locals
opposing the construction of a starch factory and an approach
road at Bhajanpur in Bihar's Araria district.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, July 05, 2011, 19:34