Pondicherry, June 14: PCC president V Narayanaswamy today demanded that Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh quit his post, owning moral responsibility "for violating protocol" when he met Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa at Tamil Nadu Bhavan in New Delhi on June 11. It was deplorable for him to have acted in such a manner, "especially when Jayalalithaa has been charged with economic offences," Narayanaswamy told reporters here.
He described as "amusing", Jayalalithaa's recent statement, rejecting the possibility of forming an alliance with the Congress. The party had not approached her for any pact, he said, adding that the Congress would never have any truck with the AIADMK.

Claiming that the Congress was "fully geared up" to face the Lok Sabha polls, he said a schedule of meetings of party functionaries at block, district and state levels had already been drawn up. The high command had also listed out time bound programmes to be carried out at the state level.

He said that the Congress would soon commence agitations against the NDA-led government at the Centre to expose its "anti people" policies and programmes.

The PCC president termed as "irresponsible", Jayalalithaa's tirade against Pope John Paul II for criticising the anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu. "It only confirms her religious intolerance," he said.
PCC general secretary, A Gandhiraj alleged that the legislation was an attempt to victimise and harass the people.

Bureau Report