Date:12/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/12/stories/2003081205011100.htm

National

Cong. threatens to make Advani's `Pak. origin' a poll issue

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Aug. 11. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, B. Janardhana Poojary, has threatened to make the "Pakistani origin" of the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, an issue in the future elections in the State if the BJP persisted in calling the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, a foreigner.

Speaking to presspersons here today, Mr. Poojary said that Mr. Advani was a Pakistani as he had migrated from Karachi. He charged the BJP with ignoring facts such as the Supreme Court upholding Ms. Gandhi's Indian nationality. She had become an Indian citizen and belonged to a family that had made great sacrifices and rendered services to the country. Mr. Advani became an Indian national only after Partition, Mr. Poojary said.

He also labelled the former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, a Pakistani.

Apologising again to the people of Bangalore for the inconvenience caused to them as a result of the Congress' Kranti Yatra on Saturday, Mr. Poojary said that everyone should appreciate the cause for which they had organised the procession.