Advani is a 'dishonest PM-in-waiting': Cong

AHMEDABAD: In a scathing attack on L K Advani, Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP leader was a "dishonest PM-in-waiting" while questioning his statements on the Kandahar hijack episode.

"Irrespective of what happened in Kandahar, the fact is a leader should lead from the front. He should speak nothing but the truth," Congress party's national spokesperson Abhishekh Singhvi told reporters here.

Referring to the Kandahar incident, he asked, "whether the country can afford to have a dishonest prime minster in waiting, who is deliberately, blatantly taking liberties with the truth."

Singhvi said that Advani in his book and in a TV interview had said that he was not aware or part of the meeting which took the decision to escort terrorists to the Kabul city in 1999 in return for freedom for the passengers of Indian Airlines flight IC 814.

"However, George Fernandes, the then defence minister, in a TV interview last year had categorically said the he (Fernandes) and Advani, the then home and deputy prime minister, were present in the meeting that took the decision on sending the terrorist to Kandahar," Singhvi said.

"Mr Advani has been completely proved to be taking gross liberties with the truth. He deserves to come clean on this issue, as either of the two is lying," the Congress spokesperson said.