Rejecting Bharatiya Janata Party's demand for a CBI inquiry into the murder of its legislator Krishnanad Rai, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has said the state police and Special Task Force were fully capable of arresting the culprits.
"There is no need for a CBI inquiry into the case as the STF and state police, investigating the matter, were capable enough to bring the culprits to book," Yadav told reporters in Mainpuri on Tuesday night.
Lashing out at the BJP and the Congress, Yadav alleged that the two parties wanted to give a "political colour" to the murder and were, in fact, interested "in stretching the matter".
The state government will not recommend a CBI inquiry into the case as it has already handed over the investigations to the STF and serious efforts were on to arrest the assailants, the chief minister said.
Replying to a question, he said the killing was the fallout of a gang war.
On the ongoing protests in Varanasi by senior BJP leaders who are pressing for a CBI probe into the killing, Yadav said his party could also go among the people and apprise them of his government's view on the matter