The Hindu : Sonia's foreign origin not a relevant issue: CPI (M)

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Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

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Sonia's foreign origin not a relevant issue: CPI (M)

NEW DELHI, JAN. 10 . With the Bharatiya Janata Party raking up the foreign origin of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the CPI (M) today said there should not be any fundamental opposition to her becoming the Prime Minister.

"I don't think that is a relevant issue (Sonia's foreign origin)," the CPI (M) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, told NDTV.

To a question if he had any fundamental opposition to Sonia Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister, he said: " Fundamental opposition? How can it be... hundreds of our boys are married in Europe, girls are married. I cannot tell them get out... then that should be applicable to all and not one."

`Attempt to create rift'

The Congress today termed as " false and mischievous" a television channel story in which the veteran CPI (M) leader, Somnath Chatterjee, was quoted as saying that the Congress Working Committee member, Manmohan Singh, would make a good Prime Minister.

"The Congress sees it as yet another attempt to create a rift in the friendly parties...This is part of a stage-managed drama sponsored for the benefit of the national executive of the BJP meeting being held at Hyderabad," party sources said.

Mr. Chatterjee had denied having made such a statement, the sources said, adding that the party had contacted him.

The channel, in a news story yesterday, had shown Mr. Chatterjee praising the administrative qualities and probity of Dr. Singh. The part which evoked sharp reactions from the Congress today showed Mr. Chatterjee saying: "Dr. Manmohan Singh is expected to be a good Prime Minister... '' — PTI, UNI

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