The Hindu : Joshi did the right thing: Samata Party

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2003

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Joshi did the right thing: Samata Party

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Sept. 22. Even as the Samata Party president and Defence Minister, George Fernandes, had a long meeting with the Human Resource Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, here today, the party said that Mr. Joshi did the "right thing'' by resigning after being charge-sheeted by the Rae Bareli Court, the party's general secretary and spokesman, told newspersons here today.

"He abided by the court order, took moral responsibility and resigned. He has done the right thing.'' On the findings of the Archaeological Survey of India in Ayodhya, Mr. Kumar said the party's stand was to abide by the court verdict. The Samata Party had not been approached by the BJP for forming alliance in any of the four States that go to the polls later this year, but it would tie-up with the Indian National Lok Dal and the Akali Dal in Rajasthan.

On the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi's reiteration of charges on the coffin deal during election rallies in Rajasthan, Mr. Kumar asked her to prove the allegations or tender a public apology. While the matter had been set at rest during the no-confidence motion against the NDA Government in the last Parliament session, Ms. Gandhi insisted on keeping it alive, he said.

Accusing Ms. Gandhi of violating the law of the land, first by becoming an agent for an insurance company in 1972 and then by becoming a Director of Maruti Ltd. when she was not an Indian citizen, Mr. Kumar charged her with "being a perpetual liar.'' "It was only when the issue was raised in Parliament and the S.C. Gupta Committee was set up that she was removed from the company." "Now that she says she is an Indian citizen she should not take security issues lightly and level charges against Mr. Fernandes. She is alleging that the borders are not safe. If she has evidence on when the coffin deal was made and who benefited from it, she should come out with it, or apologise publicly,'' he said.

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