BJP exults over twin triumphs

As former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah secured bail in the Sohrabuddin encounter case and the Karnataka high court upheld the disqualification of BJP rebels, the Congress refused to term them as setbacks and pointed at the long road ahead. The bail to Shah, close aide of chief minister Narendra Modi, came despite the CBI opposing it on the grounds that if set free, he could influence the witnesses. The Congress had also thrown its weight behind the BJP rebels, who forced a floor test. BJP spokesman Tarun Vijay was quick to call it “a triumph in Gujarat and Karnataka”, while the AICC distanced itself from the Sohrabuddin case. AICC spokesman Manish Tiwari told reporters, “The fake encounter case is between the former home minister, court and CBI... The court will decide who is innocent and who is guilty.” He underlined that the case was lodged against Shah as per the directions of the Supreme Court. The judicial stamp on the disqualification of BJP rebels in Karnataka has come as a blow to the Congress as the change in the assembly strength nearly toppled the Yeddyurappa government. Tiwari hinted that the high court order would be challenged in the Supreme Court. This even as BJP’s Vijay said, “We are happy. This is a happy Diwali for all those who believe in law and in upholding the spirit of the Constitution.”