A day after Rahul Gandhi escaped irate young demonstrators in Azamgarh inviting them to Delhi after polls to discuss their demand for a probe into the 2008 Batla House encounter in south Delhi, home minister P Chidambaram on Thursday shut out any possiblity of an inquiry, asserting that the 'encounter' was genuine and there was no scope to reopen the matter.

His stern reaction came at the press briefing he addressed on the decisions of the cabinet and its committees. On Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh reiterating in Azamgarh alongside Rahul Gandhi while tackling the demonstrators that the encounter was fake and he had sought a judicial probe, Chidambaram said it was his personal view and the government does not agree with it.

In the encounter in the densely populated Muslim locality of the capital on September 19, 2008, two youngsters belonging to Azamgarh were gunned down as terrorists in the shoot out which also resulted in death of inspector M K Sharma of the Special Cell of Delhi Police. Youths protested to Rahul that the Delhi Police has been since raiding Sanjarpur in Azamgarh several times in search of other alleged terrorists and keeps harassing the innocent residents.

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Batla House encounter genuine: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Dismissing Congress leader Digvijay Singh's claim that the Batla House encounter was "fake", Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the 2008 gun fight between security forces and terrorists in Delhi was indeed genuine and there was no scope for reopening the case.

"After looking into the matter, after I took over as Home Minister, we came to the conclusion that the encounter was a genuine encounter," he said at a press conference here.

The Home Minister was responding to Singh's remarks in Azamgarh yesterday when he had said that he always believed that the Batla House encounter was "fake" and had tried to get Government and the Home Ministry to investigate the matter but could not succeed.

"The Prime Minister and the Home Minister were of the view that the encounter was true. That's why I did not press it further," Singh had said.

The Home Minister said that it was the view of Digvijay Singh from the very beginning and he (Chidambaram) respected his (Singh's) view.

"But every authority who has looked into it (the case), has agreed that it was a genuine encounter. So, while there is a difference of opinion, I think the matter rests where it stands today. I don't think there is any scope for reopening that matter," he said.

The encounter on September 19, 2008, at Batla House led to the killing of Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chandra Sharma and two Indian Mujahideen terrorist while two other IM terrorists were arrested and another fled from the scene.

Charging Cong of double-speak, BJP asks PM, Sonia to explain

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Accusing the Congress of double- speak on the Batla House encounter, BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to clarify their positions on the matter.

"If Chidambaram as Home Minister says the Batla House encounter was genuine then how did Digvijay Singh term it fake in the presence of Rahul Gandhi in Azamgarh yesterday?" BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad asked.

His colleague and party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said, "Let Prime Minister come out of his silent mode and explain to the nation what are the facts of the Batla House encounter in which a brave police officer had to pay the price and he died to the bullets fired by terrorists... And, here's a Congress leader giving moral booster to the terrorists and demoralising the police force by his antics."

Prasad and Javdekar also asked Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to also give an explanation on Digvijay Singh's statements on the issue, as he spoke "their language".

"Digvijay is his Majesty's voice. You cannot remain mute spectators," said Javdekar while questioning Sonia and Rahul.

Javdekar went a step ahead by asking the Prime Minister to not just clarify his own position with regard to the matter, but also take action against Digvijay for making such statements.

"In fact PM should take action against Digvijay, as he was trying to influence the courts. We condemn such dirty politics," he said.

Attacking Digvijay, Javdekar said, "How much you will stoop low to gain a few votes".

"Will Sonia Gandhi and Rahul open their mouth and clarify the issue or will they continue to play votebank politics over it. The Congress is even courting the terrorists and their families in their bid to do so," Prasad alleged.

"If Digvijay Singh has sought to play with national security, then Sonia Gandhi should ask him to resign immediately from the post of Congress general secretary or else he should be sacked," Prasad said.

Javdekar also alleged that "He (Digvijay) has no sympathy for the brave policeman killed, he had sympathy for terrorists. He is making fun of investigations. This is an attempt to influence the court judgment. We condemn this."

Batla House encounter: BJP hits out at Cong

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) BJP today hit out at Congress and the government on Batla House encounter, alleging that they were engaged in double speak on the issue with Home Minister P Chidambaram maintaining it was genuine while party leader Digvijay Singh insisting it was fake.

"If Chidambaram as Home Minister says the Batla House encounter was genuine then how did Digvijay Singh term it fake in the presence of Rahul Gandhi in Azamgarh yesterday?" BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad asked.

He sought to know whom the people should believe on this issue in such a scenario.

"Will Sonia Gandhi and Rahul open their mouth and clarify the issue or will they continue to play votebank politics over it. The Congress is even courting the terrorists and their families in their bid to do so," Prasad alleged.

The opposition party said that this double speak on the part of the Congress and the government was unacceptable and must end.

"If Digvijay Singh has sought to play with national security, then Sonia Gandhi should ask him to resign immediately from the post of Congress General Secretary or else he should be sacked," Prasad said.

Taking digs, Prasad said Singh is no ordinary person and, hence, his comments should be clarified. "Digvijay Singh is the Man Friday of Rahul Gandhi and a General Secretary of the Congress," Prasad said.