Thursday, January 20 2005 12:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Ridiculing the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) for seeking a ban on the use in any form of the Justice U C Bannerjee report on Godhra train blaze, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Jan 20, 2005) said the Election Commission (EC) had not put any restriction on him in this connection.

"The commission has not put any restriction on me in this regard. I will place the report in Parliament soon," Laloo told a press conference after releasing his party's manifesto for the February Assembly poll in Bihar.

"More so, I have not said anything on my own. I have quoted the facts from the press release issued by Justice U C Banerjee in New Delhi," he remarked.

Warning of strict action against those exploiting religion to influence the electorate, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) T S Krishnamurthy had yesterday (Jan 19, 2005) said in Ranchi that it would be "unfortunate" if parties rake up the Banerjee committee report on Godhra incident during the campaign.

When his attention was drawn to reports that RJD president Laloo Prasad had blamed the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) for post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in his election campaign in Bihar Krishnamurthy had said, "We have to verify the authenticity of the statement. But the commission will take action if religion is used for political exploitation."