New Delhi: The BJP today accused Maharashtra ATS of acting in a politically motivated and unprofessional manner in the Malegaon blast case and meting out "barbaric treatment" to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and demanded a change in the team probing the incident.

"It has become clear that the ATS is acting in a politically-motivated and unprofessional manner. After going through her(Sadhvi Pragya) affidavit. I have to express my shock and outrage which I am sure all Indians will share," BJP leader L K Advani said during his one-day tour of the poll-bound BJP-ruled Chattisgarh state today.

The NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate demanded a change in the investigating team and a judicial inquiry into allegations of torture made by Sadhvi Pragya against ATS.

"In view of the shocking charges made against the ATS by the Sadhvi and the fact that the present investigating team has lost all moral authority, I demand a change in the present ATS team and a judicial inquiry be ordered to probe the charges made by Sadhvi Pragya and the manner in which unsubstantiated allegations have been made against army personnel," he said.

Advani said "so far, I had refrained from commenting on the allegations leveled by the Maharashtra ATS against Sadhvi Pragya and her supposed associates but after going through her affidavit detailing how she was physically and psychologically tortured and abused in obscene languages by her interrogators, I have to express my shock and outrage".

"I cannot believe that such barbaric treatment has been meted out to a spiritual person, that too, a woman in a country that prides itself on its democracy and rule of law", he added.
Source : PTI