Union Minister of State for Home R P N Singh said the Centre had given enough time to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu to give his statement before police but was forced to take action once he started playing tricks.
Minister said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had taken consent Union Home Ministry over the issue as the case was related to three states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. "law will take its own course," he told reporters in party office here on Sunday.
Singh said the Rajasthan Police had already given Asaram Bapu enough time till August 30 to give his statement to the police but when he tried to escape from the law he was arrested. "No one is above the law in the country how so ever mighty he be," the Minister said. When asked about the hike in petro prices he said the rise was due to the international market and falling value of the Rupee against Dollar. "Oil companies are free to hike theprices as per the international crude rate. It is also seen that these companies have reduced price when the crude price came down," he said.
Appreciating Food Security Bill recently passed in the lok Sabha, Singh made it clear that it will also benefit the urban population of the country too. "There is a myth that the Bill will only serve the rural populace but in reality it will benefit both the urban and rural poor," he added. The Union Minister of State for Home also lauded the UPA-II for the amendment in the land Acquisation Act and said that now there would be no harassment of the farmers in acquiring land.
Earlier Singh held a meeting with Congress leaders of lucknow district and expressed that booth level committees should be set up at the earliest. The Union Minister, who is in charge of 12 districts including lucknow, said without strong organisation, the party will have to face severe constraints during the coming lok Sabha elections.
"Dissolve differences with other leaders of the party and work unitedly for a grand success so that UPA-III comes to power at the Centre," he said. Congress MlA from lucknow cantonment seat Rita Bahuguna Joshi along with other senior leaders of lucknow district participated in the meeting.