Advani demands PM's statement on Baalu issue

Senior BJP leader L K Advani today demanded a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament to clear his position after accusing his Office of being involved in the "scandal" over Shipping Minister T R Baalu allegedly misusing his position.

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today demanded a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament to clear his position after accusing his Office of being involved in the "scandal" over Shipping Minister T R Baalu allegedly misusing his position.

Advani dubbed the allegation that Baalu used his influence to get gas supplies to the firms of his sons as a "major scandal." "I demand, therefore, that the Prime Minister make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on this murky episode," Advani told a press meet.

The BJP's prime ministerial candidate said, "The facts of the case are not at all in doubt as the DMK minister has admitted to seeking favours from the Prime Minister's Office for his sons." The PMO (Prime Minister's Office) is believed to have written as many as eight letters to the Ministry of Petroleum recommending the Minister's case, he said.

Stating that the UPA Government's tenure started with a Cabinet that included several "crime-tainted" ministers, he said if several of them had fallen by the way side it was due to "the spirited campaign" by the Opposition and "scathing rulings" by the judiciary.

Now the question is whether this government's tenure going to end with the exit of corruption-tainted ministers, he asked.

"The scandal that had come to light last week involved a DMK minister who misused his office to indulge in nepotism. Worse still, the PMO also has been involved in the scandal," the BJP leader said. (PTI)

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