Describing the BJP's anti-corruption slogan as "empty", the Congress Friday said the petroleum ministry document leakage was reflective of the government's "non serious" approach to fighting corruption.
Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar spoke about Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's attempt to deflect focus from his government's failure by hinting at espionage in the ministry allegedly having taken place during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.
"The slogan of 'Na khayeinge, na khane denge' (Neither would we take bribe, nor would we let anyone else do so) is an empty slogan. This government is not serious in fighting corruption," Ajoy Kumar told the media here.
He questioned the BJP's silence if the matter of alleged espionage during the UPA rule was in its knowledge when the party was in the opposition.
"Why did they not raise an alarm if they knew it (leakage) was happening during the UPA II rule," Ajoy Kumar asked.
"We urge the BJP... please don't impose your failures on us," he said.
Earlier Friday, Congress leader Manish Tewari demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the document leakage case that had Thursday caused reverberations in the political and corporate circles.
Delhi Police Thursday arrested five people -- two ministry employees and three others -- for stealing documents and leaking them to corporate houses. Two fresh arrests were made Friday, that included a former journalist with an energy consultant.
All seven accused, charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to theft, forgery, trespass and criminal conspiracy in leaking the documents, were sent to custody Friday.
Tewari said Pradhan was "very quick" to blame the UPA government and "claim that all this was going on during the UPA time".
"If he (Pradhan) has categorical information, put it out in public space or withdraw and publicly apologise for the irresponsible statement. It would also raise the question if the minister was concealing more than revealing," Tewari told IANS.
Tewari, a former union minister, said "self-serving explanations" were being trotted out.
"The matter needs full investigation under supervision of the highest court of the land," Tewari said.
He said the government should come out with the names of those who had allegedly benefited from the leaked information.
Congress leader P.C. Chacko said Pradhan had stated that the leakage of documents was taking place during the UPA years.
"What is the proof? The offices (of the ministry) were opened at midnight and papers leaked. He (Pradhan) cannot absolve himself of the responsibility," Chacko said.
Pradhan had Thursday suggested that malpractices in the ministry were taking place during the UPA government.
"Everyone knows what was practised in the previous (government). The new government is taking precautions," he had said.
