The government is facing the heat a day after the disclosure of the Liberhan Commission report. The pressure to release the controversial RD Pradhan report on the 26/11 attack is mounting. Chief minister Ashok Chavan may convene a meeting of his cabinet to evolve a strategy to counter the oppositionand NGOs who are questioning the contents of the 100-page report.
“The essentials were placed before the state legislature with the action taken report in the monsoon session,” Chavan said, implying that there is no attempt to shun responsibilities.
But the Shiv Sena and the BJP have decided to step up their demand for the report in the winter session beginning December 8. Eknath Khadse, leader of the opposition, said, “If their intentions are clear and they want to learn from past failures, why can’t they share the document with us?”
A senior cabinet minister said, “What is tragic is that even cabinet ministers have been unable to study the report. Prima facie we have buckled under bureaucrats’ pressure to withhold the report as it would have raised questions about the functioning of the police and the administration.”
Insiders say, while lauding the role of the police, the report questioned the leadership of then commissioner Hasan Gafoor. In the same breath, it appreciated the role of director-general of police AN Roy.
“The Pradhan committee was not formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act,” said former IPS officer YP Singh. “It has no legal standing. If it is made public, it will throw up questions that the government will not be able to answer... During Pradhan’s probe, people were not allowed to depose. Natural justice has not been done,” he said.
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