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Verma blames 'gang rivalry' for rebel's murder

Former Delhi chief minister Sahib Singh Verma today claimed the murder of rebel Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Ved Singh was the result of "inter-gang rivalry" and criticised the Samata Party for giving a "political colour" to the incident.

Ved Singh was contesting the Nangloi Jat assembly constituency on a Samata Party ticket.

Verma said the Samata Party was unnecessarily involving the BJP in the case.

Ved Singh was shot dead in Mundka village in Nangloi Jat constituency on Tuesday night.

Verma, who had declared that he would not take food till the police achieved a breakthrough in the case, today converted his fast into a "relay" hunger strike along with his supporters, including Delhi Transport Minister Devender Singh.

Declaring that he was "satisfied" with the progress of the investigation, Sahib Singh said he was hopeful the culprits would be arrested by tomorrow. But he and his supporters would continue their relay hunger strike to keep up the pressure on the police to speedily investigate the matter, he added.

Devender Singh, who is the BJP candidate for Nangloi Jat, said the episode would not have any bearing on his electoral prospects. "When the truth comes out, our opponents will only be disappointed," he said.

UNI

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