Ram Jethmalani takes on Congress; criticises Rahul Gandhi

He is a man of the 'law', and naturally known for not mincing words. Ram Jethmalani, Rajya Sabha member and a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, took on the Congress on Sunday, for projecting Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister.

He also criticised present PM Manmohan Singh for shielding corrupt people in his ministry.

Jethmalani, who was in the city to attend a function of the Global Sindhi Council, termed the Congress 'a party of flatterers'.

He said that promoting Rahul as the future prime minister is equivalent to degradation of the post. "Why don't they (the Congress) declare information about his education?" he demanded, and went on to add that the Congress has lost its conscience, and that good people in the party are unfortunately silent.

The veteran advocate also blamed PM Manmohan Singh for protecting corrupt people in his ministry. He said that Singh is undoubtedly an honest person, known for not entertaining bribes.

"However, he has one flaw - despite knowing that some of the people around him are given to corruption, he shields them. His integrity is being used to protect such people," he said.

Jethmalani reiterated that he has all the documentary evidences proving that the CBI fabricated charges against former state home minister Amit Shah. He termed the charges a 'Congress conspiracy' to demoralise Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.