M A I N   N E W S

Cong goes on offensive as Oppn seeks PM’s ouster
n A 2008 WikiLeaks cable alleges bribing of MPs to win the vote of confidence during the passage of Indo-US N-deal n The cable was sent by an American diplomat, who was political counsellor in the US Embassy, to his government
Anita Katyal
Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, March 17
Just when the Congress thought it was recovering from a spate of corruption charges which were levelled against it over the past several months, the party was hit with another crisis today. The latest WikiLeaks cables have suggested that the UPA government won a crucial trust vote in 2008 on the India-US nuclear agreement through the unscrupulous use of money power.

While the Opposition disrupted Parliament to press for the PM’s resignation, the Congress dropped the defensive posture it had adopted earlier when it was mired in corruption charges.

Instead, an aggressive Congress hit back at the Opposition in equal measure for demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation on the basis of unsubstantiated information in the latest WikiLeaks cables.

Striking a strident note this time, the Congress mounted a counter-offensive against the Opposition, especially the BJP, for “indulging in irresponsible politics” and even went as far as to accuse its political detractors of destabilising the country.

The party rallied behind Prime Manmohan Singh, describing him as a “spotless Prime Minister” and accused the BJP of tarnishing his image on the basis of “unverified leaks without any corroborative authentication”.

On the issue, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, said: “It is conclusively clear that this government survived on political and moral sin and has no authority to even to continue for one minute…it’s an offence of bribery committed by Indians in India and the government was guilty of a cover-up.”

Countering Jaitley, UPA troubleshooter and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: “The correspondence between the sovereign government and its missions enjoys diplomatic immunity. Therefore, it is not possible for the government (India) to either confirm it or deny it.”

And at the party’s daily briefing, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, “Does the BJP have any sense of responsibility…it rushed to seek the PM’s resignation without trying to establish the authenticity of these cables.” These allegations have hit a raw nerve with the Congress as Satish Sharma is a close not succeed yet he got adequately compensated by this government. This contemporaneous evidence stares in the face of the political immorality of this government. The UPA-I survived on the political strength of sin. The Prime Minister has no moral authority to lead the government. He must quit forthwith.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP Satish Sharma said the allegation was baseless since Nachiketa Kapur was never his political aide. “I have read the newspaper report this morning. I read dots, full stops and commas. I have seen it all. All I have to say is Kapur neither was ever nor is my political aide, so this is totally baseless,” Sharma said.
Earlier, the Leaders of Opposition in both Houses, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, too, described the expose as a blemish on India’s hard-earned global image.

The CPI backed the NDA demand while the CPM, distancing itself from the BJP, challenged the government to disprove the charges or quit. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury demanded a CBI probe against those accused while the Samajwadi Party wanted an investigation for its name to be cleared considering it had voted for the UPA over the Indo-US nuclear deal issue.

Later when the Lower House met at 6 pm, Sushma Swaraj made a brief speech saying, “The latest expose has shamed the country and denigrated Indian democracy. Let the Prime Minister rise and say all this is a lie.”

When the Prime Minister, sitting in the House, made no move, she led the entire NDA out of the House. But even before she rose, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav walked out saying, “The Prime Minister is not replying to our queries, we are therefore walking out.”

This morning too Gurudas Dasgupta, after moving a motion to adjourn the Question Hour today, termed the development a “murder of democracy” and said, “Let the PM explain his position or resign” while SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted his skin saved. “We also voted for the UPA. Lest our conduct is questioned, let there be a probe.” Amid charges and counter charges between the Opposition and Treasury, the Lok Sabha witnessed two adjournments this morning.

Cables sent from US Embassy reportedly say