Thursday, January 20 2005 18:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (Jan 20, 2005) described as 'unfounded and concocted' the reported allegation by the State BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) regarding his 'close relationship' with Justice Umesh Chandra Banerjee who probed the Godhra incident, and categorically stated that he had nothing to do with the Godhra report.

"My relationship with justice Banerjee is nothing more than what exists between lawyers who belonged to the same bar," Chatterjee said in a statement in Kolkata.

Commenting on the recent statement of State BJP General Secretary Rahul Sinha alleging the Speaker's 'close relationship' with Justice Banerjee, Chatterjee said that he had come to know of Justice Banerjee's assignment to inquire into the Godhra incident only from the statement made by the Railway Minister Laloo Prasad in the Lok Sabha.

"I came to know of the report made by Justice Banerjee from the newspaper only and I categorically state I have nothing to do with his report on Godhra incident," Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee also regretted that such 'totally unfounded and baseless' allegations had been made concerning an eminent former judge of the country and him.

He further stated that while starting his career Justice Banerjee had worked in his chamber as a junior for about two years, as dozens of other lawyers had done over the years.

The Lok Sabha Speaker said that neither he nor CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) had any hand in the appointment of Justice Banerjee or in the discharge of his duties as a judge.

Chatterjee also requested Sinha to withdraw such allegations.

Sinha, when contacted refused to take back his allegation and said that Chatterjee should instead ask Justice Banerjee to withdraw his interim report on Godhra incident.

Reiterating the allegation of 'CPM-Laloo nexus', Sinha said that that the Railway Minister could have appointed a retired judge from Bihar but he chose to appoint Justice Banerjee 'who was close to the Lok Sabha Speaker to probe Godhra incident'.