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Fernandes challenges Sonia to produce evidence
New Delhi, Aug 18: Facing an Opposition boycott, Defence Minister George Fernandes today accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of carrying on a campaign of calumny against him and challenged her to produce evidence to substantiate the charge that he and the government had made money in the purchase of coffins for Kargil martyrs.
New Delhi, Aug 18: Facing an Opposition boycott, Defence Minister George Fernandes today accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of carrying on a campaign of calumny
against him and challenged her to produce evidence to substantiate the charge that he and the government had made money in the purchase of coffins for Kargil martyrs.
Throwing the gauntlet at her during the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, he said, "I challenge the Leader of the Opposition to bring evidence and substantiate the charge. If you are honest, if you have the courage, produce evidence".
An agitated Fernandes said if he made money out of jawans' blood, "I am not fit to be a member of the House.
"If I have spoken a lie, I should be punished. Similarly, if the Leader of the Opposition has done so, she should be punished," he said in his 90-minute intervention often marked by clashes between him and the Congress benches.
Chinks in the opposition armour over boycott of Fernandes came to the fore when RJD and Left Parties' members walked out when he began his speech while Congress lifted the boycott albeit for a day. Samajwadi Party and NCP members had already made it clear that they will not boycott him.
Bureau Report
An agitated Fernandes said if he made money out of jawans' blood, "I am not fit to be a member of the House.
"If I have spoken a lie, I should be punished. Similarly, if the Leader of the Opposition has done so, she should be punished," he said in his 90-minute intervention often marked by clashes between him and the Congress benches.
Chinks in the opposition armour over boycott of Fernandes came to the fore when RJD and Left Parties' members walked out when he began his speech while Congress lifted the boycott albeit for a day. Samajwadi Party and NCP members had already made it clear that they will not boycott him.
Bureau Report