Want justice for Batla house accused, says Digvijay

Hours after Home Minister P. Chidambaram said there was "no scope" for a fresh probe in the 2008 Batla House shootout, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh reiterated his demand for justice for the accused and said they should get speedy and fair trial.

"We want justice for the 26 accused in the case, and a speedy, free and fair trial should be conducted," Singh said responding to queries from reporters.

He also said he had respect for Delhi Police Inspector M.C. Sharma who was killed in the alleged shootout.   

Chidambaram had earlier Thursday rejected Singh's claim that the September 2008 Batla House gun battle in Delhi with suspected terrorists was fake and said there was "no scope for re-opening the matter".

Singh had Wednesday repeated his view that the shootout may have been fake.

"The prime minister and home minister were of the view that the encounter was true. That's why I did not not press it (the demand for a new probe into the gunfight) further," Singh told media persons before an election rally addressed by Rahul Gandhi at Azamgarh Wednesday.