CPI-M demands resignation of Amit Shah

The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Friday demanded the resignation of Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah in view of the CBI naming him as an accused in the chargesheet filed in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

"The CBI investigation should be pursued seriously. A chargesheet has been filed and the next step is that Shah should step down," party General Secretary Prakash Karat told mediapersons in New Delhi.

Noting that the investigations have led to evidence involving the role of Shah, he said, "Given the history of connivance of Gujarat government in communal pogroms, this investigation should be continued."

On Kashmir, Karat said the CPI-M was demanding that a parliamentary delegation should visit Jammu and Kashmir to "hear the views of all sections of the society".

"Since June there have been a number of incidents involving clashes between stone-throwing young men and the police forces. Seventeen young men have lost their lives in this period.

"The Central Committee noted that the all-party meeting had called for a credible inquiry into the circumstances which had led to the death of civilians in the recent period. But the process for such an inquiry has still not started. The security forces have to exercise restraint in the face of the protests. The Central Committee appealed to the young people not to go in for a confrontation with the security forces," Karat said.

Karat also said it was "highly unfortunate" that the Centre has not taken any "worthwhile step" to initiate a political dialogue with all sections in the Valley.