'Sonia owes an explanation'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. The Bharatiya Janata Party today said the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, ``owes an explanation to the nation'' for retaining the services of her Private Secretary, Mr. Vincent George, booked by the CBI on charges of corruption.

In an obvious attempt to deflect the heat generated by Opposition on the Vajpayee Government following the Tehelka expose, the BJP lost no time in playing up the disproportionate assets case against Mr. George, suggesting that the Congress seek the resignation of Ms. Gandhi instead of the Prime Minister.

The BJP spokesman, Mr. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, however, refused to demand Ms. Gandhi's resignation, stating that the party would gain if she remained AICC president, thereby indicating it would not let go on the opportunity to cash on it in political terms.

With the CBI filing a case against Mr. George, a matter of ``public knowledge'' had been confirmed, he said demanding that the Congress should stop its tirade against the Vajpayee Government.

The Congress should call off its proposed nationwide rallies against the Government, and stop stalling Parliament on ``baseless and imaginary'' charges.

Ridiculing the Congress reaction to the case as an act of political vendetta, Mr. Malhotra said that going by the argument the BJP was tempted to ask whether it was the Government which registered the properties which the CBI said were owned by Mr. George.

Mr. Malhotra pointed out that the statements of the former Enforcement Directorate official, Mr. Ashok Aggarwal, and Mr. Abhishek Verma, son of a former Congress MP, who were close to Mr. George, were also ``serious''.

Asked why the CBI had registered the case against Mr. George at this juncture, Mr. Malhotra said that while investigations were on for nearly a year, the timing of the case was a mere ``coincidence''.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Bid to divert attention: Cong.
Next     : India wins Chepauk thriller