The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(U) seeks apology from Sonia Gandhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 08, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(U) seeks apology from Sonia Gandhi

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 7. The State unit of the Janata Dal (United) has demanded a public apology from the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, for allegedly making false allegations against the party President and former Defence Minister, George Fernandes, on Defence procurements.

In response to a public interest litigation petition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that no rule was violated in the Defence purchases made during and after the 1999 Kargil war.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, the Janata Dal (U) State unit President, B. Somashekar, said the Congress-led Opposition in Parliament had not allowed Mr. Fernandes to speak as Minister for several months and it boycotted sessions many times on the issue. The Congress campaigned against Mr. Fernandes during the elections and exploited the issue to win seats, he alleged.

Ms. Sonia Gandhi's charges brought down the morale of the armed forces. She "insulted" democracy and the Constitution by making baseless charges against Mr. Fernandes, who is known for simplicity and honesty. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that highlighted irregularities in the purchase of arms and ammunitions during the Kargil war was politically motivated. "The CAG was a pro-Congress man and he prepared the report to gain political benefits from that party," Mr. Somashekar alleged.

Report on Tehelka

He demanded that the UPA Government make public the Justice Phukan Commission Report on Tehelka and the Central Vigilance Commission report on Defence procurements. The country has now come to know of the "political conspiracy" against Mr. Fernandes, he added.

Asked about the electoral tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the coming polls to local bodies, Mr. Somashekar and M.P. Nadagouda, MLC, said the party will go it alone. Any alliance of the party with the BJP will be confined to the national level, he added. In the wake of the drinking water shortage in Belgaum district, Dr. Nadagouda urged the Government to take a delegation to Mumbai to urge the Maharashtra Government to release water from the Koyna Dam.

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