Saturday, September 3 2005 12:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised financial assistance to the Dalit families whose houses were torched at Gohana in Haryana early this week, Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today (September 3, 2005) said.

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader, who visited the village yesterday (September 2, 2005), told PTI that the Prime Minister had assured him that adequate financial assistance would be provided to the affected families.

Paswan said that Singh had directed the State Government to take strong action against those involved in the incident and ensure that such incidents don't recur.

The LJP leader alleged that the incident took place in the presence of police officers and demanded that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President L K Advani should enquire into the charge that the son of a local BJP MP was involved in the incident.

Paswan also alleged that BJP leaders had a role in the Jhajjar incident in the state when National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power.

On the demand by the local people for a CBI inquiry into the Gohana incident, Paswan said that if the State Government recommended such a probe the Centre would have no objection.

Before visiting the site Paswan talked to Prime Minister and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.