06-28-2007, 12:38 AM
I have a feeling this statement below is going to backfire on shekhawat. Which indian politician wants an untainted president? Let me think.........
Also as sankara said, this is getting hilarious... Congress defending hindu albeit creepy beliefs of a secular candidate... it does not get better. Wait, it can if Prathiba so desires!
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Peeved Cong talks of morality
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Seeks withdrawal of Shekhawat !
Piqued by the BJP's campaign against UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil - in the eye of a storm in the wake of a spate of allegations - the UPA on Wednesday sought to acquire high moral ground because she had quit the governorship of Rajasthan before entering the race.
It demanded that Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat should also quit his post.
"I have the highest regard for him (Shekhawat) as Vice-President. There is no rule for a Governor or Vice-President to resign. But in the run-up to the election, people say let us set up some moral standards," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, speaking as the UPA candidate's election representative.
Dasmunsi also took strong exception to Leader of the Opposition LK Advani's call for a conscience vote in presidential election and asked the Election Commission take note of his remarks.
According to him, this amounted to pressurising Central and State legislators who form the electoral college for presidential election.
Terming Advani's remarks as "dangerous", he alleged at a Press conference at Congress headquarters that the safety and security of the elected representatives would come into question in view of such statements.
Dasmunsi's argument was immediately controverted by NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj who said there was no need for Shekhawat to resign.
She pointed out that the then Vice-President VV Giri had not resigned from the post when Indira Gandhi fielded him against the official Congress nominee N Sanjeeva Reddy in 1969.
<b><span style='color:red'>Addressing the national executive of the BJP on Tuesday, Advani had appealed to the constituents of the UPA to reconsider their decision to field Pratibha by pondering over the question as to what would happen if "Rashtrapati Bhawan itself gets a tainted occupant?"</span></b>
The Leader of Opposition had also asked the BJP and its allies to organise a mass awareness campaign soon to mount public pressure on MPs and MLAs of the UPA constituents to cast a 'conscience vote' in favour of Shekhawat, contesting as an independent with NDA backing.
Dasmunshi dubbed all the allegations against Pratibha as "stories". He said Pratibha would herself respond to these allegations after the nomination process was over and rubbished the talk of Patil to be a "rubber stamp".
Dismissing the charges against her, Dasmunsi dared her detractors to come forward to substantiate their charges. "Let Advani start the campaign from anywhere," he said.
The Congress leader singled out Advani for attack, suggesting that the BJP leader's statement against Pratibha were not shared even by party chief Rajnath Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"What are the charges? Which court has passed any stricture? In this country, whenever a woman comes forward to take up a challenge, plenty of uncalled for allegations are levelled," he said.
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'><b>
The Union Minister brushed aside reports claiming that Pratibha had spoken of a divine premonition.
Making light of the controversy during Pratibha's visit to Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, he remarked, "Don't we say the food is good if we are invited somewhere, even though in reality it may be different."
Replying to queries, he said that faith in god and religion does not mean belief in superstition.</b></span><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Also as sankara said, this is getting hilarious... Congress defending hindu albeit creepy beliefs of a secular candidate... it does not get better. Wait, it can if Prathiba so desires!
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Peeved Cong talks of morality
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Seeks withdrawal of Shekhawat !
Piqued by the BJP's campaign against UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil - in the eye of a storm in the wake of a spate of allegations - the UPA on Wednesday sought to acquire high moral ground because she had quit the governorship of Rajasthan before entering the race.
It demanded that Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat should also quit his post.
"I have the highest regard for him (Shekhawat) as Vice-President. There is no rule for a Governor or Vice-President to resign. But in the run-up to the election, people say let us set up some moral standards," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, speaking as the UPA candidate's election representative.
Dasmunsi also took strong exception to Leader of the Opposition LK Advani's call for a conscience vote in presidential election and asked the Election Commission take note of his remarks.
According to him, this amounted to pressurising Central and State legislators who form the electoral college for presidential election.
Terming Advani's remarks as "dangerous", he alleged at a Press conference at Congress headquarters that the safety and security of the elected representatives would come into question in view of such statements.
Dasmunsi's argument was immediately controverted by NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj who said there was no need for Shekhawat to resign.
She pointed out that the then Vice-President VV Giri had not resigned from the post when Indira Gandhi fielded him against the official Congress nominee N Sanjeeva Reddy in 1969.
<b><span style='color:red'>Addressing the national executive of the BJP on Tuesday, Advani had appealed to the constituents of the UPA to reconsider their decision to field Pratibha by pondering over the question as to what would happen if "Rashtrapati Bhawan itself gets a tainted occupant?"</span></b>
The Leader of Opposition had also asked the BJP and its allies to organise a mass awareness campaign soon to mount public pressure on MPs and MLAs of the UPA constituents to cast a 'conscience vote' in favour of Shekhawat, contesting as an independent with NDA backing.
Dasmunshi dubbed all the allegations against Pratibha as "stories". He said Pratibha would herself respond to these allegations after the nomination process was over and rubbished the talk of Patil to be a "rubber stamp".
Dismissing the charges against her, Dasmunsi dared her detractors to come forward to substantiate their charges. "Let Advani start the campaign from anywhere," he said.
The Congress leader singled out Advani for attack, suggesting that the BJP leader's statement against Pratibha were not shared even by party chief Rajnath Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"What are the charges? Which court has passed any stricture? In this country, whenever a woman comes forward to take up a challenge, plenty of uncalled for allegations are levelled," he said.
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'><b>
The Union Minister brushed aside reports claiming that Pratibha had spoken of a divine premonition.
Making light of the controversy during Pratibha's visit to Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, he remarked, "Don't we say the food is good if we are invited somewhere, even though in reality it may be different."
Replying to queries, he said that faith in god and religion does not mean belief in superstition.</b></span><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->