Lathi-charge on BYJM members: Advani complains to Pranab about PC

Agitated over the police action against protesting Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing activists in New Delhi on Tuesday, senior BJP leader L K Advani on Wednesday complained to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the orders seem to have come directly from Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Advani, who met Mukherjee in Parliament, told him about the "atrocities" meted out to the activists of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha.

Sources said Advani, without naming Chidambaram, told Mukherjee that such action could not have been taken without orders from the home ministry. Delhi police comes directly under the jurisdiction of Chidambaram.

Advani had visited the injured BYJM activists in the hospital on Tuesday and demanded an inquiry into the matter.

The party has now sought Chidambaram's resignation over the issue.

The senior BJP leader also told Mukherjee that there were reports of Chidambaram telling a section of the media that he did not want another "Ayodhya-like incident" while justifying the lathi-charge on activists.

Advani told Mukherjee that even handicapped activists were not spared by the police during the lathi-charge.

The youth wing activists had taken the metro train to Parliament and then walked up to Vijay Chowk in small groups, taking the police by surprise.