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Plot to kill Sonia in MP, screams Congress

The Congress today said there was a conspiracy to assassinate the party's star campaigner Sonia Gandhi during her visit to Madhya Pradesh.

Disclosing this at a news conference, party spokesperson Najma Heptullah said the body of an engineer was recovered under mysterious circumstances two days ago near the meeting venue near Bilaspur. A diary containing detailed maps of Sonia's meeting places and the plan to place a bomb under the dais were recovered from the deceased, who has been identified as A R Venkataraju. He was working with SECL where he was handling explosives.

Heptullah said she has already got in touch with the Union home secretary and director general of police, Madhya Pradesh, who confirmed the episode. The authorities told her that they had already apprised the Centre of it. The chief minister, who is away in the interiors on electioneering, could not be contacted, she said, adding that attempts are on to reach him.

The documents recovered from the deceased revealed that it was a plot to eliminate Gandhi, Heptullah said.

Heptullah said central agencies were investigating into the incident and details were awaited.

Replying to questions, she said the party was satisfied with the progress of investigations conducted by the state government. The Congress has also demanded that security for Gandhi should be beeffed up in view of this incident.

Congress president Sitaram Kesi, when contacted, said Heptullah has talked to the press about the incident and he had nothing more to add.

UNI

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