Spectrum scam: BJP flays Congress bid to tar its leaders (Lead, changing dateline)

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday demanded an apology from the Congress for levelling “baseless allegations” that BJP leaders were involved in the 2G spectrum scandal and had links with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

“Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress party has levelled baseless allegations on L.K. Advani that he went for the foundation laying ceremony of Radia’s trust and that that land was given by the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in Lucknow.

“That land was of the Pejawar Swamy trust and it was given by the P.V. Narasimha Rao government (of the Congress). So we demand an apology from the Congress party,” he said.

The Congress lost no time in hitting back and party spokesperson Manish Tewary said that the BJP cannot “run away” from its links with Radia.

“The allegations which have been levelled are extremely great (sic). And the BJP cannot run away from its links with Niira Radia,” Tewary told reporters in New Delhi.

“Why had all these stories between Radia and the BJP or the NDA government been appearing in the public space even as far as 10 years ago,” he asked.

Prasad said: “Every time the Congress is cornered in a scam, its leaders get down to finding some alibi to target their rival parties. The baseless charge levelled by its leaders against the BJP is also an attempt in the same direction.”

“We reiterate our demand for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation as also a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rs.1,76,000 crore scam,” Prasad said.

“The prime minister claims to be an honest man. Then why did he remain silent when such huge amount of money was siphoned off? Why didn’t he stop (former telecom minister A.)Raja then?”

“We are convinced that only a JPC probe would bring out the truth,” Prasad said.

“The attempt to drag senior BJP leaders, including Advani, in the controversy is highly objectionable and we demand an unconditional apology from the Congress,” he said.

Singhvi had Friday questioned the BJP’s “silence” over the alleged links between Radia and BJP leader Anant Kumar and alleged that the NDA government allotted land to her trust and Advani attended the stone-laying function.