New Delhi: Accusing the BJP of indulging in politics of “revenge instead of action”, the Congress said on Thursday that the ruling party was trying to divert attention from the opposition demands for the resignations of BJP ministers.
"Instead of seeking the resignations of their leaders, they (Bharatiya Janata Party) are raising non-issues or small issues to divert (public) attention,” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here.
He said Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's affidavit of 2011, when she was Leader of the Opposition in her state, in favour of former IPL chief Lalit Modi's British immigration application was made on the condition that her assistance should not be revealed to the Indian authorities.
"It is rebellion against the country. She should be removed from the party (BJP),” said Azad, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
He also sought the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over her alleged help to Lalit Modi and of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam. Lalit Modi is facing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
"Till the time there is action or there are resignations, we will continue to raise these issues inside and outside parliament,” Azad said, adding that the government was insensitive to the demands of the opposition and to the desire of the people.
About the BJP members moving a privilege motion against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Azad said his party never indulged in revenge politics when it was in power.
"We did not resort to tit for tat action; we did not indulge in revenge; we did not let loose our agencies to settle scores,” he said.
"Instead of taking action, they (BJP leaders) are taking revenge. The Congress never took revenge. To silence the opposition, they are using every mechanism. It is undemocratic,” Azad added.
Asked if the Congress was rattled, the Congress leader said his party did not bow even before the British, what to speak of the present government.
Azad said the Congress had overwhelming support from other parties in favour of its demands for the resignations of BJP leaders. “Some may be very vocal, some less vocal and some silent,” he said.
About the BJP allegations against Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday, Azad said these charges were raked by the BJP even during the 2012 assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.
He maintained that the Congress fight against the BJP was on principles. “It is not a personal battle, but for principles,” Azad said.
The former union minister said the Congress had asked its leaders to step down during the earlier UPA government's rule at the Centre even though there was no direct allegations against them.
The two Houses of parliament on Thursday saw disruptions for the third successive day of the current monsoon session due to the stalemate over the opposition demands for the resignations of three BJP leaders.
