Cong calls Advani a 'dishonest PM-in-waiting'

Asking LK Advani to come clean on the Kandahar hijack episode, Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP leader was a "dishonest PM-in-waiting" who was "blatantly taking liberties with the truth" on the issue.

Congress party's national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed 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," he told reporters here.

"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.

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 demanded that Advani either condemn Fernandes' version "or accept that he spoke falsely".