02-16-2008, 06:16 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Sonia gets EC notice over Belgian honour</b> <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Feb 16, 2008
New Delhi : The Election Commission on Friday served a notice on Congress President Sonia Gandhi on a disqualification complaint against her for receiving a Belgian honour, triggering a political row.
Sonia was asked to respond within three weeks by the three-member Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy after a split verdict of 2-1, a rare difference in opinion in the EC in recent times.
The Commission also asked the External Affairs Ministry to furnish details within three weeks about Gandhi receiving the âOrder of Leopoldâ from the Belgium government in November, 2006.
The 61-year-old Sonia found herself in the midst of a controversy following a complaint last year from an advocate from Kerala seeking her disqualification from the Lok Sabha alleging it amounted to owing allegiance to the Constitution of that country.
She was honoured with the âOrder of Leopoldâ, the second highest civilian award in Belgium, and an honourary doctorate by the Belgian government during her visit to the European country in November, 2006.
Reacting to the development, Congress spokesman Shakil Ahmed said that Gandhi had done ânothing wrongâ by accepting the award and several leaders in the past had been bestowed with such honours.
The BJP, however, sought to turn it into a controversy by asking Gandhi to âclear the cloud of suspicionâ over her allegiance to a foreign country.
Congress tonight dismissed as âlaughableâ the complaint seeking disqualification of its chief Sonia Gandhi from the Lok Sabha for receiving a Belgian honour and said it will give a âstrong and fitting replyâ to the Election Commission notice to her.
âThe complaint is baseless and motivated. To suggest that receiving of a foreign citation or decoration is office of profit or foreign allegiance is laughableâ, said party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only time will tell whether congress party gives a 'fittingly reply' or with an shameful face says sorry to the nation for the wrong doing of their leader.
Feb 16, 2008
New Delhi : The Election Commission on Friday served a notice on Congress President Sonia Gandhi on a disqualification complaint against her for receiving a Belgian honour, triggering a political row.
Sonia was asked to respond within three weeks by the three-member Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy after a split verdict of 2-1, a rare difference in opinion in the EC in recent times.
The Commission also asked the External Affairs Ministry to furnish details within three weeks about Gandhi receiving the âOrder of Leopoldâ from the Belgium government in November, 2006.
The 61-year-old Sonia found herself in the midst of a controversy following a complaint last year from an advocate from Kerala seeking her disqualification from the Lok Sabha alleging it amounted to owing allegiance to the Constitution of that country.
She was honoured with the âOrder of Leopoldâ, the second highest civilian award in Belgium, and an honourary doctorate by the Belgian government during her visit to the European country in November, 2006.
Reacting to the development, Congress spokesman Shakil Ahmed said that Gandhi had done ânothing wrongâ by accepting the award and several leaders in the past had been bestowed with such honours.
The BJP, however, sought to turn it into a controversy by asking Gandhi to âclear the cloud of suspicionâ over her allegiance to a foreign country.
Congress tonight dismissed as âlaughableâ the complaint seeking disqualification of its chief Sonia Gandhi from the Lok Sabha for receiving a Belgian honour and said it will give a âstrong and fitting replyâ to the Election Commission notice to her.
âThe complaint is baseless and motivated. To suggest that receiving of a foreign citation or decoration is office of profit or foreign allegiance is laughableâ, said party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only time will tell whether congress party gives a 'fittingly reply' or with an shameful face says sorry to the nation for the wrong doing of their leader.