Advani meets jailed former Gujarat minister

AHMEDABAD - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Saturday went to Sabarmati jail here to meet Gujarat’s former minister of state for home Amit Shah, arrested in the alleged staged-killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in 2005.

Advani, who is the MP from Gandhinagar, reached the Sabarmati central jail at 4.50 p.m. and was with Shah up to 5.20 p.m.

He later went to Shah’s residence to enquire about the well-being of his wife and family members.

Shah, who represents Sarkhej assembly constituency in Ahmedabad which forms a part of Advani’s parliamentary constituency, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation July 25 in the staged shootout case and faces charges of murder, distorting evidence and extortion, among others.

Talking to media persons later, Advani said that the voters of the state’s Kathlal assembly seat - which the BJP wrested from the Congress Friday - have given a fitting reply to the United Progressive Alliance government’s “conspiracy” and “misuse” of the CBI.

Speaking on the ensuing Ayodhya verdict - due Sep 24, he said that he has told all party MPs not to speculate. “We shall see what the verdict is but one thing is for sure that it will go to the Supreme Court,” he added. He said that he would be going to Somnath Sep 25.

Advani later also visited ailing Speaker Ashok Bhatt who is recuperating in hospital. He is also slated to meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi before returning to Delhi.