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Assam CM joins issue with Sushma Swaraj over foreign origin
New Delhi, May 16: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ridiculed senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj for her threat to quit the Rajya Sabha if congress president Sonia Gandhi took over as prime minister, saying it only exposed her `meanness and hollowness`
New Delhi, May 16: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ridiculed senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj for her threat to quit the Rajya Sabha if congress president Sonia Gandhi took over as prime minister, saying it only exposed her "meanness and hollowness"
He said that the issue was settled over 50 years ago by the Constitution makers who did not favour any distinction between Indian-born and foreign-born citizens.
"She (Swaraj) has exposed her meanness and hollowness. She doesnot have faith in the constitution,” Gogoi, who was accompanied by the newly elected Congress MPs from the state, told reporters here.
"The issue of foreign origin of a citizen was settled in 1950 when the Constitution was adopted. All those who drafted the Constitution were of the view that there should not be any distinction between England-born or Indian-born citizens,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the NDA fought the elections on the issue of Vajpayee versus Sonia and now that the people have rejected Vajpayee as the next prime minister, they were raking up the issue of foreign origin.
Praising the electorate for their "mature" decision, he said the voters rejected both Ram Janmbhoomi and Sonia Janmbhoomi. "People found Soniaji more sincere", he added.
Gogoi expressed confidence that a congress-led government will be formed at the Centre under the leadership of Sonia.
To a question whether he would quit chief ministership if Sonia wanted him to join the Union Cabinet, the Chief Minister said, "If she asks, I am ready to become even a district Congress president.”
Bureau Report
"She (Swaraj) has exposed her meanness and hollowness. She doesnot have faith in the constitution,” Gogoi, who was accompanied by the newly elected Congress MPs from the state, told reporters here.
"The issue of foreign origin of a citizen was settled in 1950 when the Constitution was adopted. All those who drafted the Constitution were of the view that there should not be any distinction between England-born or Indian-born citizens,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the NDA fought the elections on the issue of Vajpayee versus Sonia and now that the people have rejected Vajpayee as the next prime minister, they were raking up the issue of foreign origin.
Praising the electorate for their "mature" decision, he said the voters rejected both Ram Janmbhoomi and Sonia Janmbhoomi. "People found Soniaji more sincere", he added.
Gogoi expressed confidence that a congress-led government will be formed at the Centre under the leadership of Sonia.
To a question whether he would quit chief ministership if Sonia wanted him to join the Union Cabinet, the Chief Minister said, "If she asks, I am ready to become even a district Congress president.”
Bureau Report