New Delhi: Congress today attacked CPI-M
and termed as "absurd" its statement that supporters of
Maoists were also in the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.
"It is not only a joke but also absurd that those who
themselves accept that they supported Maoists in and outside
India and helped formation of a government of Maoists in a
neighbouring country level such allegations," Party
spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.
He was responding to the statement of CPI-M leader
Sitaram Yechury, who, in an oblique reference to Railway
Minister Mamata Banerjee, said that though the Prime Minister
says the Maoist problem is the biggest threat to internal
security, his cabinet has members who are in league with them.
Asked about the arrest of ULFA chief Arvinda Rajkhowa
in Bangladesh, the Congress leader said that it shows that a
"very strong" and "resolute" action has been taken.
Terming it a "sensitive issue", he said details of the
ULFA leaders are with the Home Ministry, which will soon give
some definite information on the issue.
Replying to another question, Singhvi said he found
nothing wrong in the government's reported move to raise the
salary of ministers to ensure that they are not paid less than
the bureaucrats functioning under them.
"Austerity drive does not mean that periodic salary
reviews cannot be made. At least we (Congress) adopted
austerity, which no other parties did," he said when asked how
does the party justify the move vis a vis its austerity
drive.
-PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 03, 2009, 21:46