The Hindu : National : Sonia's `silence' on Quattrocchi issue proves guilt: BJP

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Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007
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National

Sonia's `silence' on Quattrocchi issue proves guilt: BJP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday expressed unhappiness over the `silence' of Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the Ottavio Quattrocchi affair saying that this ``demonstrates" her guilt.

The BJP deputy leader of the Lok Sabha V.K. Malhotra blamed the courts for the inability of the previous National Democratic Alliance Government to secure the extradition of the Italian businessman, who is an accused in the Bofors case. ``We failed to get Quattrocchi extradited from Malaysia because of the courts," Mr. Malhotra said.

Answering questions from reporters he admitted that during the NDA Government's tenure the prosecution had failed to prove charges against most of the accused in the Bofors case, including the Hindujas. However, the role of Mr. Quattrocchi had been followed up vigorously, he suggested.

``Everyone knows that it was the Congress that had helped Quattrocchi to escape [India] after the Bofors scandal broke out," Mr. Malhotra said. ``Her [Mrs. Gandhi's] silence [on the subject in her address to the Congress Parliamentary Party on Tuesday] establishes her guilt.''

Mr. Malhotra was critical of the new ``charter of demands'' for advancement of Muslims made by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), saying that this was part of a pattern: the Congress party set up the Sachar Committee; the Samajwadi Party joined the political battle on behalf of Muslims; the Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan went to the extent of saying Uttar Pradesh should have a Muslim Chief Minister; and now the CPI (M) has demanded a ``charter'' for the betterment of Muslims.

The BJP described this as ``rabid communalism'' and suggestive of an ``anti-Hindu mentality'' of these parties. It said it would use this as an issue in the coming election in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere.

``We criticise this strongly. Religion cannot be a basis for discrimination as per the Constitution. We warn that this would create the kind of atmosphere prevalent in pre-Partition days,'' the BJP leader said.

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