The Hindu : National : Mulayam must quit, says Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

National

National

Mulayam must quit, says Congress

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has "no moral right to continue" in office following a television exposure that one of his Ministers agreed to carry narcotics in his official car for a consideration.

Describing the report by a channel in which Minister Mehboob Ali was shown allegedly agreeing to transport narcotics across the State, the Congress said it had "shocked the conscious of the nation and what is more shocking is that there had been no reaction from the Samajwadi Party."

Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said: "Nothing can be more shocking to the soul of democracy that a Minister in the State Government has been shown agreeing to accept money to transport drugs in his official car."

"Sad and shameful"

The incident, she said, highlighted the near total breakdown of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. "It is a sad and shameful day for Indian democracy."

In the light of the revelation Mr. Yadav has lost the moral right to continue in office. "We call upon him to do the right thing," Ms. Natarajan said.

Asked if the party was making grounds for dismissal of the State Government, she said the decision rested with the Governor and the Union Government.

"We are only calling upon his conscience to do the right thing."

On the issue whether the Congress would consider withdrawing support to the Mulayam Singh Government, she said that State unit would take a decision at an appropriate time and hold discussions with the party leadership.

"Clandestine meeting"

On Wednesday, Ms. Natarajan criticised the "clandestine" meeting Mr. Yadav had with Israeli Ambassador David Danieli. Mr. Yadav, "who professes to champion the cause of minorities,'' should clarify his position, she said.

"Mr. Yadav should disclose the agenda. This is the latest in a series of such meetings Mr. Yadav has been having,'' she said and listed the meetings he had with the American Ambassador and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief.

Mr. Yadav's meeting with the RSS chief took place soon after the communal violence in Mau district of the State, she pointed out.

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