Congress rejects Advani's invitation for live debate with PM

GUWAHATI: The Congress on Monday rejected NDA's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani's invitation for a live debate with prime minister Manmohan Singh. The party accused Mr Advani of indulging in divisive politics.

Mr Advani during his election rally last week in Silchar had urged the prime minister to participate in a live debate.

In this light, AICC general secretary M Veerappa Moily said, "From Prakash Karat to Mayavati, there are far too many prime ministerial candidates in the fray. A debate will only lead to chaos and disorder."

He added that Congress does not recognise Advani as a prime ministerial candidate. India is a parliamentary democracy where people elect Lok Sabha members and they elect the prime minister. This is not a presidential system.

Mr Moily further said that Advani has the habit of dividing the states. BJP has a communal agenda.

The AICC observer for Assam observed that BJP has a communal agenda. For Varun Gandhi���s remark on the minorities, BJP first distanced itself from his remarks and now they are all together.