BJP demands PM's resignation, apology from Cong

LUCKNOW: Sharpening its attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP today demanded that he step down owning "moral responsibility" for the 2G spectrum scam.

The principal opposition also accused the ruling Congress of engaging in "desperate" tactics to deviate people's attention from the corruption issue and demanded that it apologise to senior BJP leader L K Advani for claiming that he attended a function of a Trust controlled by controversial corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

"There is a man Dheeraj Rao, who enjoys very good relationship with a prominent Congress family of Haryana, has levelled baseless allegations against BJP leaders," party's national general secretary and chief spokesman Ravishankar Prasad told reporters here.

"He is Congress' plant and the party is expert in doing such things to deviate and mislead the people from the real issue," he alleged.

Prasad denied the allegation that Advani inaugurated a function of a Trust controlled by Radia.

"In reality, Advani attended a function of a religious organisation of Pejavar Swamy and the land was alloted to him by the United Front government," Prasad said, adding, "Allegations levelled against (BJP chief Nitin) Gadkari have turned out to be baseless and Ananth Kumar has already issued a legal notice.

"This is not the first time when Congress is playing such tactics, it has done so in the past as well," he alleged and demanded that the Congress "apologise to Advani".

Terming the irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum as the biggest scam in the country, he said, "Being the Prime Minister, when ministers were looting public exchequer, he should resign owning moral responsibility."

Prasad said the BJP will not relent on its demand for a JPC probe into 2G issue as PAC's jurisdiction was very limited.

"We took the decision to stall the proceedings of Parliament under great pain, but had we not taken a strong stance then A Raja would not have resigned. Whatever action is happening including CBI probe is only due to pressure mounted by us," Prasad said.