Headlines
BJP seeking revenge instead of resignations: Congress
New Delhi, July 23
Accusing the BJP of
indulging in politics of "revenge instead of action", the Congress said
on Thursday that the ruling party was trying to divert attention from
the opposition demands for the resignations of BJP ministers.
"Instead
of seeking the resignations of their leaders, they (Bharatiya Janata
Party) are raising non-issues or small issues to divert (public)
attention," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here.
He
said Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's affidavit of 2011, when
she was Leader of the Opposition in her state, in favour of former IPL
chief Lalit Modi's British immigration application was made on the
condition that her assistance should not be revealed to the Indian
authorities.
"It is rebellion against the country. She should be
removed from the party (BJP)," said Azad, Leader of the Opposition in
the Rajya Sabha.
He also sought the resignation of External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over her alleged help to Lalit Modi and
of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam
scam. Lalit Modi is facing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
"Till the time there is action or there are resignations, we
will continue to raise these issues inside and outside parliament," Azad
said, adding that the government was insensitive to the demands of the
opposition and to the desire of the people.
About the BJP members
moving a privilege motion against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Azad said
his party never indulged in revenge politics when it was in power.
"We
did not resort to tit for tat action; we did not indulge in revenge; we
did not let loose our agencies to settle scores," he said.
"Instead
of taking action, they (BJP leaders) are taking revenge. The Congress
never took revenge. To silence the opposition, they are using every
mechanism. It is undemocratic," Azad added.
Asked if the Congress
was rattled, the Congress leader said his party did not bow even before
the British, what to speak of the present government.
Azad said
the Congress had overwhelming support from other parties in favour of
its demands for the resignations of BJP leaders. "Some may be very
vocal, some less vocal and some silent," he said.
About the BJP
allegations against Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday,
Azad said these charges were raked by the BJP even during the 2012
assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.
He maintained that the
Congress fight against the BJP was on principles. "It is not a personal
battle, but for principles," Azad said.
The former union minister
said the Congress had asked its leaders to step down during the earlier
UPA government's rule at the Centre even though there was no direct
allegations against them.
The two Houses of parliament on
Thursday saw disruptions for the third successive day of the current
monsoon session due to the stalemate over the opposition demands for the
resignations of three BJP leaders.