He said he always believed that Batla House encounter was fake and had tried to get the government and the Home Ministry to investigate the matter but could not succeed.

"The Prime Minister and Home Minister were of the view that the encounter was true. That's why I did not not press it further," Singh said in Azamgar from where a number of youth were arrested in terror cases, including the Delhi bomb blasts.

Activists of Ulema Council staged demonstrations in front of the Sibli College where Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi was staying.

The activists staged a demonstration, raised slogans and burnt an effigy in front of the Sibli College gate this morning, police said.

"We had already warned that if Rahul comes to Azamgarh without an inquiry into Batla House shootout, he would not be allowed to enter," Ulama Council President Aamir Rashadi said.

Gandhi, who is on a visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of UP Assembly polls scheduled to be held in February, was staying at the college guest house last night.

In New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, however, refused to react on Singh's comments maintaining that the party has already expressed its views on the issue repeatedly and has nothing more to say on it.