Suggesting linkages between the Indian Mujahideen/ SIMI and organisations affiliated to the Sangh Parivar, the Congress on Friday demanded that Government of India should set up a Multi-Disciplinary Task Force to conduct a detailed investigation into the “various dimensions”. It also demanded an inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court to see if organisations like Sankalp and private military schools were trying to subvert the neutrality of the “government structure” of the country.

“Evidence in public space indicates that they (IM/ SIMI and those allegedly affiliated to the Sangh Parivar) could be linked somewhere. If outsourcing happened in one case, why can’t it be in other cases?” said AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh termed the party’s demands as “good suggestions” adding that the approach should be “non-partisan”. Asked if he agreed to the party’s suggestion of links between IM/SIMI and those affiliated to the Sangh Parivar, he said, “You may call it pre-conceived but I have always had doubts about the Sangh Parivar. This was brought up immediately after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination but it was not taken up then.”

Accusing the Gujarat Government of trying to “suppress” the investigations into Modasa blasts, Tewari said investigating officer of the case had gone to the extent of giving a clean chit to Pragya Thakur and her associates despite the fact that similarities between Modasa and Malegaon blasts could not be more glaring.