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BJP unleashing sleaze campaign: Cong.

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI FEB. 18. Stepping up its attack against the BJP for unleashing a "sleaze campaign'', the Delhi Pradesh Congress president, Subhash Chopra, today demanded resignation of the Gujarat Home Minister, Amit Shah, for hatching a "political conspiracy'' to defame the Congress on the eve of the polls in Himachal Pradesh "where the defeat of the saffron brigade is definite''.

Addressing a Press conference here along with Arvinder Singh Lovely, MLA, and the Leader of the House in MCD, Ram Babu Sharma, the DPCC president said "Mr. Shah should apologise for indulging in such shameless act which should be condemned by one and all.'' The BJP and its Ministers were busy trying to dig up something or the other against the Congress and the allegations against Mr. Lovely were part of this well-thought out conspiracy. Copies of Mr. Lovely's travel bills in Ahmedabad and Delhi and then to Allahabad, which were paid for and reimbursed by the Vidhan Sabha, were also distributed at the media briefing to rebut Mr. Shah's charges that the kingpin of the sex scandal had paid for the travel and hotel expenses of Mr. Lovely and two Punjab Ministers.

Terming the allegations as politically motivated, Mr. Chopra said the BJP had seen the writing on the wall. The communal outfit was heading for a defeat in the Himachal Pradesh polls and that was the reason why this kind of sleaze campaign had been unleashed to divert the attention of the people from the real issues. Stating that the entire episode was the brainchild of the "communal mascot'' Narendra Modi, the DPCC president said the Congress would not be cowed down by such acts. Releasing copies of the FIR lodged by the Gujarat police, Mr. Chopra said that cases had been registered under Sections 402, 420 and 120B of the IPC. But none of these sections have anything to do with immoral trafficking in woman or sexual abuse.

Rubbishing the claims of the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, that funds channelled from criminals were used to fund the travel and stay of these three Congressmen, Mr. Chopra said all the expenses were borne by the Delhi Vidhan Sabha to which Mr. Lovely is entitled along with his family as an MLA. Similarly, he also produced copies of the advance deposit receipt made by Mr. Lovely when he booked accommodation at the Taj Hotel. "The BJP should first decide if its Home Minister in Gujarat or the leader in Delhi is right. While Mr. Shah is saying something, Mr. Mukhi is quoting something else. They should first decide which of the lies they are going to project. Mr. Mukhi needs to verify his facts before making any allegation,'' Mr. Chopra asserted.

Turning down the demand for resignation of Mr. Lovely, the Congress leader said there was no case made out against the MLA and resignations cannot be offered or given on frivolous issues. Instead, he sought the resignation of Mr. Shah for levelling such baseless and politically motivated allegations. Mr. Lovely said notice for defamation has been sent to Mr. Shah by his lawyer and he had also deposited the court fee to seriously take up the case.

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