NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Tuesday sharpened its attack on the Congress with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor and Janata Dal (United) president George Fernandes demanding the resignation of Sonia Gandhi as chairperson of the National Advisory Council in the wake of the Volcker report on the Oil-for-Food scandal. "If Natwar Singh deserved to be deprived of his portfolio, surely, Sonia Gandhi cannot hold on to her responsibilities currently supported by the public exchequer," Mr. Fernandes told a press conference here.

Dubbing the United Progressive Alliance Government as "a Government of national shame," Mr. Fernandes said it had no moral authority to continue to lead the very people it had defrauded. He demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh either set matters right in accordance with his principles and status or resign with his Cabinet "before the people bring this corrupt Government down."

He said Mr. Singh should not be made the scapegoat as having been named as a non-contractual beneficiary the Congress had an "equal status" in the Volcker report. "In the wake of the serious allegations against her party, Ms. Gandhi should make her position clear," he said.

JD(U) leader George Fernandes

`What was the deal?'

"The nation demands a full disclosure of the exact nature of promises made by the Congress party to the then Iraq Government in return for favours. What were the contents of the letter which our now `Minister without portfolio' carried on behalf of Ms. Gandhi to Saddam Hussein? How much money has been made in the transaction and where has it gone? Given the security and diplomatic ramifications that this `murky' transaction could have had, why did not Ms. Gandhi and others of her party think it proper to follow the law and seek necessary permission from the Government [of the day]?" he asked.

`Probe role of party'

The former Defence Minister demanded that the terms of reference of the Justice Pathak Inquiry Committee be "specified" so that it could inquire into the role of the Congress and Mr. Natwar Singh in the episode.

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