Congress distances itself from Suresh Kalmadi

Congress today distanced itself from its beleaguered MP and chairman of organising committee of the Commonwealth Games Suresh Kalmadi whose premises were raided by CBI, saying the party would not "intervene in the legal processes."

Asked whether the party had left Kalmadi, facing charges of corruption, in the lurch, Congress spokesperson and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who was in Pune, said "The party will not intervene in the legal processes."

Dwivedi asked as to what impact the raids would have on Congress in Pune, the city which he represents in Parliament, and said as a political party it would not comment on the legal processes in the case.

On the controversial statement made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal regarding Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the party spokesperson said, "Our reaction is the same as the one we had to RSS leader Sudarshan's statement (regarding Rajiv Gandhi) which was later withdrawn."

Earlier, addressing party workers in Pune, Dwivedi said the RSS was an "imitation" of Rashtra Seva Dal which had basic ideological differences with Congress.