A 93-year-old freedom fighter today created a stir at the Congress Plenary by asking party President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to fight corruption even if it meant sacrificing the UPA government.
Soon after the political resolution was passed at the Congress Plenary session here and the day’s proceedings came to an end, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi requested all those on the dais not to leave before the freedom fighter, Ram Vilas Pandey from Uttar Pradesh, give a short speech.
The Prime Minister and the Congress President, who were about to leave, returned to their seats.
“Let the government go, but punish those guilty... be it (former Telecom Minister) A Raja or (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) M Karunanidhi,” he said.
He said since the Prime Minister and the Congress President have a clean image, it was necessary for them to fight against corruption.
“Punish them if guilty...it does not matter whether the government remains,” he said.
Referring to the Local Area Development Fund for MPs, he said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken a decision in the right direction by ending the facility for State legislators. “Forty per cent of the fund ends up being paid as commission...now I hear the MPs want the fund to be increased from Rs 2 crore per annum to Rs 5 crore,” he said.
Prime Minister Singh shook hands with him after he ended his speech.
