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Thursday, Oct 12, 2006
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Fernandes threatens stir

K. Balchand

He says "a game, a tamasha and a natak" had been started against him

PHOTO: RANJEET KUMAR

IN REVERENCE: The former Defence Minister, George Fernandes, paying tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan on the occasion of his birth anniversary, in Patna on Wednesday.

PATNA: National Democratic Alliance convenor George Fernandes on Wednesday threatened to launch an agitation to "expose" the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi.

He announced his decision at a function organised here by Janata Dal (United) leaders to celebrate the 104th birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan.

Never referring directly to the cases lodged against him by the CBI in matters of defence purchases, Mr. Fernandes said that "a game, a tamasha and a natak" had been started against him only because he had sought to "convey to the Congress president's home where the roots of corruption lay."

"She has lots of money amassed through loot and corruption by her husband," he alleged.

He regretted that the NDA Government had not taken the steps that were needed then. "If action had been taken this game would not have started. The NDA would not have gone out of power."

Mr. Fernandes said that there was a need to launch an agitation and hinted at the possibility of calling on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam over the issue. He said there was a plan to rally socialists across the country during the "milan" scheduled in Kanpur on Thursday.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refrained from commenting on the FIR filed against Mr. Fernandes, saying he was not aware of the details.

Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad demanded a CBI enquiry into the deal. He attacked Mr. Kumar as well by wondering if the same money had not been used to rig the Assembly elections.

Mr. Prasad described as baseless the charges levelled by Mr. Fernandes against Sonia Gandhi. "Sonia Gandhi is not a woman who nurtures a grudge against anyone."

He accused Mr. Kumar of double standards in dealing with legislators and MPs. He charged that Mr. Kumar protected the likes of Prabhunath Singh, MP, and party legislators despite their indulging in increasing lawlessness and the subversion of law.

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