Cong plays Advani card to strike at BJP
ROW Congress claim BJP veteran LK Advani’s remarks were a hint for the ministers
Spokesperson PC Chacko says LK Advani’s recent remarks — about the “responsibility” of politicians to “command people’s trust” — was “a clear indication” to BJP ministers embroiled in various controversies to take moral responsibility >>
NEW DELHI: As the BJP remains unmoved over charges against its ministers, the Congress-led Opposition on Sunday pitted veteran BJP leader LK Advani against his own party, claiming that his remarks on Saturday on probity in public life was a message for the allegedly errant ministers to quit.
Recently, the former deputy Prime Minister said in an interview that a politician’s “biggest responsibility is to command people’s trust”. He had also emphasised on maintaining probity in public life.
On Sunday, Congress spokesperson PC Chacko said: “It is a very clear indication from the senior-most leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party that its ministers, when they are implicated, when there are allegations against them, should own up responsibility.”
In the interview, Advani had pointed out that when his name was embroiled in the Hawala scam in 1996, he had immediately resigned from Parliament.
The Congress claimed that his remarks were a clear indication that cabinet ministers like Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje must follow the same path.
“The very mention of Advaniji’s resignation now means what? It is a hint that he wants that these two people to own moral responsibility,” added Chacko.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, now an ally of the Congress, said it was now clear that the BJP, which claimed to be a party with a difference, does not intend to walk on the path of political morality. “This is what Advaniji has also cautioned about,” Kumar said.
The Opposition’s latest move comes amid the NDA’s tough stand to shield the ministers embroiled in the row over Lalit Modi.
The ruling party has taken the stand that there’s no wrong-doing involved in helping Lalit Modi secure travel documents, even as the Opposition threatens to washout the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
Claiming that Advani’s opinion was the “reflection of thinking the people in general,” the Congress demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi come out with a clear explanation of the issue.