Cong counters Volcker attack

Pushed to the wall by the Opposition parties over Volcker report in the past over ten days, the Congress today launched a counter-offensive citing the Tehelka expose and a string of scams involving NDA leaders during the previous regime.

The party, which until today was refusing to react to the Opposition's onslaught was apparently stung by the latter's attempts to drag Congress President Sonia Gandhi's name into the Iraq oil controversy.

The belated counter-offensive from the Congress also seemed to vindicate reports about the party distancing itself from former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh who has been left to fend for himself.

NDA Convenor George Fernandes had yesterday demanded Gandhi's resignation from the post of chairperson of the National Advisory Council and sought clarification from her over the party's alleged involvement in the Iraqi oil payoff.

He was in for a special treatment from the Congress on Wednesday as party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan reserved the choicest expletives for him, calling him "scamster" and "veteran and hero of many scams from Kargil to Tehelka".

Questioning the "audacity" and "moral authority" of the Opposition leaders, she reminded them that Fernandes had been "brazenly" re-inducted into the Cabinet without his name being cleared and then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani against whom chargesheets had been filed had refused to vacate his seat.

Gandhi, on the other hand, Natarajan pointed out, had given up prime ministership in the larger interest of the country.

Even after such a sacrifice, Opposition leaders were targeting her, Natarajan rued. There was no question of Gandhi's resignation from the NAC, she said.