New Delhi:
The cash-for-votes scandal rocked Parliament for the second consecutive day, prompting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to step up and defend the Government. The PM strongly rejected allegations of bribery during the 2008 trust vote.
Addressing both Houses, an assertive Dr Singh said that nobody from the Congress or the government engaged in any "unlawful act" and the charges were "unverified and speculative". The cash-for-votes allegations, the PM said, were being looked into by the Parliamentary committee.
Hitting out at the Opposition, Dr Singh said it was "unfortunate" that it continues to raise the "old charges", giving "dignity" to the "speculative, unverified and unverifiable" communications purportedly between the US Embassy and its government in Washington.
Dr Singh pointed out that UPA-I had won the confidence motion in July 2008 with 275 votes in its favour and 256 against it. "These allegations of bribery were investigated by a committee of the 14th Lok Sabha which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to draw any conclusion," he said.
"I am disappointed that the Opposition has forgotten what happened thereafter. The Opposition repeated the allegations of bribery and how did the people respond," he said, citing the increase in Congress seats from 145 to 206 in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as compared to BJP whose tally declined from 138 to 115 and that of Left parties from 59 to 24.
But the Prime Minister's explanation wasn't good enough for a belligerent Opposition, which demanded a debate on the floor of the House and dismissed previous probes, describing them as misleading. It had earlier launched a frothing attack on the government, accusing it of surviving on the strength of "a political sin."
In Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the Opposition could not be "gagged" after Chairman Hamid Ansari said rules did not permit clarifications as the PM had not made a suo motu statement, but had spoken in response to demands. Following an uproar, both Houses were adjourned for the day.
The BJP said the PM's statement, especially the bit about the findings of the MPs panel that probed the scandal earlier, is misleading.
"I am reading from the majority part of the report...it says Mr Saxena did make an attempt to give a bribe," said Jaitley.
"We will file a breach of privilege notice against the Prime Minister on Monday," said Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The Left, meanwhile, discounted the PM's argument about winning the 2009 elections.
"Even Narendra Modi says he keeps winning elections. Hitler had used similar arguments. Does criminal culpability end with winning elections?" questioned Sitaram Yechury, member CPM Politburo.
The Prime Minister had earlier today at the India Today conclave said, "I have no knowledge of any such purchases and I am absolutely categorical, I have not authorised anyone to purchase any votes. I am not aware of any acts of purchase of votes."
He insisted, "I am absolutely certain in asserting that I am not at all, I think, involved in any of these transactions." (
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The latest WikiLeaks cable - released early on Thursday morning - unleashed a political controversy after it suggested that the Congress bought the support of MPs in order to survive a vote of confidence in July 2008 over India's planned nuclear deal with the US. On July 22, 2008, Dr Manmohan Singh won the vote of confidence by a slim margin. (
Read entire cable here) | (
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(
With PTI inputs)