Saturday, April 15 2006 16:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Meerut: Holding multinational companies responsible for the devastating fire tragedy here earlier this week, expelled BJP leader Uma Bharati today (Apr 15, 2006) demanded that those companies be tried in a court of law.

"Foreign companies are mainly responsible for the tragedy, as their aim is to maximise profits with minimal costs. The companies bribed the officials to secure permission to hold the Fair, ignoring all rules and regulations," Bharati claimed, talking to reporters after visiting Victoria Park, the site of the tragedy.

She demanded that the companies responsible for the April 10 fire be tried in a court of law. Bharati also said the District Magistrate and SSP should be arrested and cases of negligence registered against them.

Bharati later visited Jaswantrai and Narayan hospitals, where several victims have been admitted.