Toeing the party line, Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi wondering why he was shying away from an independent probe into the 'Sahara-Birla' papers relating to pay-offs, days after her comments questioning authenticity of the documents put Congress on the backfoot.
The Congress' CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh also debunked speculation that she was distancing herself from campaigning in the poll-bound state in the wake of controversy.
Earlier, a controversy erupted after the party tweeted a link to the alleged scam – which also featured Congress leader Sheila Dikshit.
Dikshit had junked the documents but the BJP immediately latched onto the issue, and accused the Congress of double standards. The BJP said that Rahul was “whipping a dead horse” as the apex court has already cleared the matter while parties like JD(U), RJD and NCP demanded that everyone mentioned in the diaries should be probed.
“It Surprised Me”
Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is also Congress’ chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, strongly denied the charges and trashed the documents, saying the Supreme Court has already made its observations on them.
“There is no iota of truth in the allegations. I totally reject these allegations,” she said.
Asked about Congress putting out the “list” publicly on its twitter handle, she told PTI, “It surprised me”.
She, however, said she has nothing to do with the issue and refused to speak further saying the matter is sub-judice.
Sources close to her said she may take up the matter with the party.
The list has so many names. Then why are you focusing on Sheila Dikshit. I don’t even remember anything like this. There are names of other chief ministers. Why don’t you talk about them? Why only Sheila Dikshit?Sheila Dikshit
“Rahul Is No More a Child”
BJP national Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said, “There cannot be double standards but Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and their spokespersons are making stupid mistakes time and again. A horse has died and his death has been certified by the Supreme Court.”
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, he said the Congress leader “should have gained wisdom by now, he is no more a child”.
JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, “I want that the Sahara diaries should now be made public and all the people named in it should be questioned.”
“There are accusations against Sheila Dikshit, Raman Singh and Shivraj (Singh Chouhan) and some other leaders that they have received money from Sahara and that is why we demand that the entire list should be made public,” he alleged.
“Accused Must Be Dealt in Accordance With the Law”
RJD leader Manoj Kumar said irrespective of who has been named in the list, immediate action should be taken and a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court ordered.
“Because we don't want to target an individual, rather we don't want the Prime Minister's position losing its credibility in front of the entire world and this is our priority,” he said.
It does not matter if the person is from Congress or BJP or is a PM or a former CM. If someone has committed a crime and he/she is being accused, then he/she should be dealt with in accordance with the law.NCP leader Majeed Memon
Rahul Gandhi had alleged that Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups and demanded an independent inquiry into it, a charge rejected by the BJP.
The ruling party had said that the “baseless, false, shameful and mala fide” allegations were an attempt to divert attention from the AgustaWestland probe as names of Congress leaders and the “family” are coming up.
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