<div>The Congress today stepped up attack on Narendra Modi saying "real criminals" are still not in jail and sought action on "new facts" emerging after the sting operation related to Tulsiram Prajapati's killing and former cop D. G. Vanzara's explosive letter slamming the state government.<br /><br />Latching on to a communciation by National Commission for Scheduled Castes to CBI today asking the agency to probe whether the ongoing investigation and judicial process in the Prajapati case had been manipulated, party spokesperson Bhakt Charan Das said had the Modi government been responsive, such killings would not have taken place.<br /><br />AICC Communication Department Chairman Ajay Maken said that since now the NCSC has stepped into the issue and asked the CBI to probe the matter, the Chief Minister should step down till the probe is over.<br /><br />Prajapati was killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat police in December 2006.<br /><br />A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court against BJP MPs Prakash Javdekar and Bhupendra Singh Yadav alleging that they tried to impede investigation in the case in which former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah is main accused.<br /><br />The petition filed by a journalist on the basis of a sting operation done by him alleged that attempts were made by the MPs to impede the trial and other judicial proceedings in this regard by "manipulating the complainant with the sole intent to protect Shah".<br /><br />Congress has used the CD to lambast Modi over the killing of a "backward caste person" at a time when there is talk about Modi's projection as a backward caste leader in Lok Sabha polls.<br /><br />Das, however, rejected any caste angle to the issue and downplayed questions as to why Congress is highlighting the backward caste identity of the slain Prajapti 7 years after the encounter and when the Lok Sabha elections are nearing.<br /><br />"New facts are emerging in public domain now. Gradually truths are coming out. In that light we have to take step. The letter by Vanzara also shows that uptil now only cover-up has been done and real culprits are still not in jail," he said.<br /><br />Vanzara (59), a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) rank officer considered close to Modi, had on Tuesday resigned from service accusing the Gujarat government of failing to protect loyal police officers who fought against "Pakistan-inspired terrorism".<br /><br />Das also downplayed questions as to why the Chairman of NCSC P L Puniya, used the AICC forum on Tuesday to announce that he will write to CBI to take action on the CD issue.<br /><br />He first said that Puniya addressed the press briefing at AICC as Congress MP. Pressed further and reminded that Puniya had repeatedly said that he swung into action into the matter, Das said this should be asked to the NCSC Chairman himself.<br /><br />Das said that Vanzara in his letter claimed that police officers took the action only as per the order of the state government and when 32 officers are now in jail in criminal cases it is being asked "why those, who gave the orders are still out? Why they, who commit criminal acts while being in power, are not in jail? His officers are asking this." <br /><br />"Modi should resign. Action should be initiated against him," the Congress spokesperson said after reading portions from the NCSC letter to CBI Director Ranjit Sinha and the notices issued by the Commission to the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of Gujarat and Rajasthan seeking details in the matter immediately, failing which it would summon them.<br /><br />Das said that the slain Prajapati belonged to an OBC caste in Rajasthan.<br /><br />The panel, which got into the issue on the ground that the deceased belonged to OBC category, said it has taken "serious cognizance" of the case in view of the sting operation.<br /><br />(PTI)</div>
