Where's your conscience, BJP asks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

A day after Rahul Gandhi embarrassed the UPA government  by calling the ordinance to save corrupt politicians a piece of “trash”,  BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad came all guns blazing to launch an attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues.

“I would appeal to Manmohan Singh and ask him whether he is left with any conscience,” Prasad said.

Making a sudden appearance in a Press Club of India, Delhi on Friday, Rahul had said that in his personal view, the ordinance to save corrupt politicians “should be torn up and thrown in a dustbin” as it was wrong on the part of the government to save tainted politicians.

Prasad said the Congress had asked the BJP to refrain from making comments on the ordinance while the prime minister was away in the US but could  not stop its vice-president from rubbishing it.

He also questioned the understanding between party president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, because the former was a part of the core group that agreed to pass the ordinance. “Does it mean there is a difference of opinion between the Congress president and the vice-president?” Prasad asked.

He said Rahul’s statement has also given discomfort to President Pranab Mukherjee since the ordinance is under his consideration.

Attacking senior cabinet ministers, Prasad quipped how come law minister Kapil SIbal drafted an ordinance that his party vice-president did not agree with. He demanded Sibal’s reply on faltering to understand his party’s stand.

Prasad also questioned finance minister P Chidambaram’s statement that the bill did not surprise anyone. “P Chidambaram says the Bill is not surprising anyone. Is he not surprised after Rahul Gandhi’s statement? Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari should also tell us if Rahul Gandhi’s advice is solicited or unsolicited,”Prasad added.