Thursday, May 19 2005 09:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Left leaders yesterday (May 18, 2005) demanded handing over to CBI of six Gujarat riot cases whose trial were shifted out of the State following the Supreme Court's directive.

"CPM Generl Secretary Prakash Karat raised this matter, which was also supported by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad and Congress leader Ahmed Patel," UPA spokesperson Ambika Soni told reporters after a meeting of UPA and Left parties.

Soni said the UPA and Left leaders, citing the Supreme Court direction that trial in six major cases should be done outside Gujarat, suggested that the cases be handed over to CBI for investigation.

Asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's response to the demand, Soni said the Home Minister said though CBI was not under his Ministry the Government would look into the matter.

Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, gave a detailed account of developments in Gujarat and sought a CBI inquiry in to the cases.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, whose car was allegedly attacked by Sangh Parivar activists during his last visit to the State, gave a detailed account of the incident.