06-26-2007, 08:01 PM
<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> BJP asks UPA to think again about Patil
PTI | New Delhi
Stepping up its attack on Pratibha Patil, BJP today asked UPA to reconsider its decision of fielding her to avoid a "tainted occupant" in the Rashtrapati Bhavan and called for a 'conscience vote' in favour of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Senior party leader LK Advani told the BJP National Executive meeting here that "never in the past nearly six decades has a candidate for the election to the highest Constitutional office faced grave allegations."
<b>Noting that the BJP as also the NDA went to Rashtrapati Bhavan on several occasions seeking action against "tainted Ministers" in the UPA Government, Advani said, "but what if Rashtrapati Bhavan itself gets a tainted occupant? This is a question the entire nation must seriously ponder over,"</b> he wondered.
"I, therefore, urge all constituents of the UPA to reconsider their decision," he said adding that the BJP and its allies should organise a mass awareness campaign soon to mount public pressure on MPs and MLAs of the UPA constituents to cast a 'conscience vote' in favour of Vice President Shekhawat, contesting as an 'independent' with NDA support.
He said in 1969, Indira Gandhi had given a call for a 'conscience vote' to split Congress. "In 2007, let us appeal for a 'conscience vote' to unite all pro-democracy forces," he added.
PTI | New Delhi
Stepping up its attack on Pratibha Patil, BJP today asked UPA to reconsider its decision of fielding her to avoid a "tainted occupant" in the Rashtrapati Bhavan and called for a 'conscience vote' in favour of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Senior party leader LK Advani told the BJP National Executive meeting here that "never in the past nearly six decades has a candidate for the election to the highest Constitutional office faced grave allegations."
<b>Noting that the BJP as also the NDA went to Rashtrapati Bhavan on several occasions seeking action against "tainted Ministers" in the UPA Government, Advani said, "but what if Rashtrapati Bhavan itself gets a tainted occupant? This is a question the entire nation must seriously ponder over,"</b> he wondered.
"I, therefore, urge all constituents of the UPA to reconsider their decision," he said adding that the BJP and its allies should organise a mass awareness campaign soon to mount public pressure on MPs and MLAs of the UPA constituents to cast a 'conscience vote' in favour of Vice President Shekhawat, contesting as an 'independent' with NDA support.
He said in 1969, Indira Gandhi had given a call for a 'conscience vote' to split Congress. "In 2007, let us appeal for a 'conscience vote' to unite all pro-democracy forces," he added.