BJP's silence on controversies shows how it treats public opinion: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today kept up the attack on BJP over the recent run of controversies that have hit the party, saying that its silence on the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh and the Lalit Modi affair was "indicative" of how it treats the media and public opinion.

Upping the ante against the BJP government in MP, the opposition party reiterated its demand for a court-monitored CBI probe to uncover the truth behind the Vyapam scam. Congress claimed that over 40 people connected with the scam have died so far.

"The only way of determining the truth is a court- monitored CBI enquiry, which will establish whether these deaths are connected to Vyapam... whether there is an element of criminality involved.

"If there is criminality, then those who are responsible need to be brought to the book," said senior Congress leader Manish Tewari.

Asked whether he felt that the MP government was insensitive to the issue, he said that the silence on various matters, including allegations against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje vis-a-vis the Lalit Modi controversy, were indicative of the manner in which they treat public opinion.

"The silence on Vyapam, the silence on various other issues connected with the External Affairs Minister and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan are all indicative of the manner in which they treat the media and public opinion," he added.