NDA has lost moral right to rule: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH. 14. Training its guns on the NDA Government in the wake of the Tehelka expose, the Congress today said the ruling coalition had lost its moral right to continue in office.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the supreme decision-making body of the party, said the nation's future was ``not safe in the hands of a Government which is so ridden with corruption that the security of the nation is jeopardised.''

``The CWC shares with the people of India their shock and anguish at the immense threat to national security from the venality of the NDA Government, as has emerged from the revelations of the last two days,'' the CWC member and AICC general secretary, Ms. Ambika Soni, said in a statement.

The Congress spokesman, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, demanded the exit of the NDA Government on moral and ethical grounds.``The Congress is not asking for anything more. In view of monumental and multi- dimensional disclosures, nothing other than the exit of the NDA Government on moral grounds will meet demands of situation,'' Mr. Reddy told presspersons today.

Asked if the Congress would agree to a probe into the entire affair by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), Mr. Reddy said: ``We will agree for a JPC probe if the Government is gone.''

Asserting that the Congress would continue to highlight the issue in Parliament, Mr. Reddy said the Prime Minister was free to offer clarifications in and outside the House.

Asked if his party was in favour of mid-term polls, Mr. Reddy said nobody welcomed snap polls but the Lok Sabha would find alternatives. ``After all, so many Prime Ministers have resigned in Japan but no election was held.''

The spokesman said the Tehelka disclosures involved so many departments, deals and parties that the NDA Government appeared to be ``a stinking symbol of sleaze and sleaze.'' The BJP president, Mr. Bangaru Laxman's admission of receiving money and suspension of senior Defence officials ``conclusively confirms absolute authenticity of Tehelka revelations.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Laxman sets new record
Next     : Mischievous allegation, says Home Ministry