New Delhi:
In the wake of allegations that former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh had received payments from a private steel firm, BJP today claimed there is ample admissible evidence against the Congress leader and demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter.
The BJP refuted the Congress party's attempt to draw parallels between this case and the Jain Hawala Diary case in which L K Advani had faced allegations but was later given a clean chit. In both these cases, diary entries are the main evidence.
Mr Singh has dismissed the charges against him.
In an article circulated by the BJP, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has reasoned that the two cases are different and demanded that since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) staff have also been shown in the ISPAT diaries as recipients of the money, only a SIT probe can bring out the truth.
Arguing that the account books recovered during an Income Tax raid on ISPAT Industries are admissible evidence, Mr Jaitley said "these are regular books of accounts. There is a serial number, date of payment or receipt, the person to whom the payment is made, the person who authorised the payment, the quantum of money paid or received and the balance which remains in the account."
He alleges these regular books of accounts also reflect a "criminal conspiracy" between a bribe giver and a bribe taker.
With Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, which Congress is contesting under Mr Singh's leadership, the BJP ostensibly sees an opportunity in the case to take on the former Chief Minister.
"Were these facts known to the Prime Minister and the Congress President when they took certain decisions with regard to Congress party's organisational changes in Himachal Pradesh? Their silence will reflect on their condonation of corruption," Mr Jaitley said.
BJP leader Shanta Kumar also suggested that Mr Singh should quit politics till his name is cleared of corruption allegations. "I would advise him as a friend that till he is cleared of all the allegations, he should retire from politics," Mr Kumar said.
The BJP refuted the Congress party's attempt to draw parallels between this case and the Jain Hawala Diary case in which L K Advani had faced allegations but was later given a clean chit. In both these cases, diary entries are the main evidence.
Mr Singh has dismissed the charges against him.
In an article circulated by the BJP, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has reasoned that the two cases are different and demanded that since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) staff have also been shown in the ISPAT diaries as recipients of the money, only a SIT probe can bring out the truth.
Arguing that the account books recovered during an Income Tax raid on ISPAT Industries are admissible evidence, Mr Jaitley said "these are regular books of accounts. There is a serial number, date of payment or receipt, the person to whom the payment is made, the person who authorised the payment, the quantum of money paid or received and the balance which remains in the account."
He alleges these regular books of accounts also reflect a "criminal conspiracy" between a bribe giver and a bribe taker.
With Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, which Congress is contesting under Mr Singh's leadership, the BJP ostensibly sees an opportunity in the case to take on the former Chief Minister.
"Were these facts known to the Prime Minister and the Congress President when they took certain decisions with regard to Congress party's organisational changes in Himachal Pradesh? Their silence will reflect on their condonation of corruption," Mr Jaitley said.
BJP leader Shanta Kumar also suggested that Mr Singh should quit politics till his name is cleared of corruption allegations. "I would advise him as a friend that till he is cleared of all the allegations, he should retire from politics," Mr Kumar said.
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