Wikileaks - India

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[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Advani-asks-PM-to-quit-over-WikiLeaks-bombshell/articleshow/7727242.cms"]Advani asks PM to quit over WikiLeaks bombshell[/url]

The published US embassy cable said that an American diplomat was shown a huge quantity of money by Nachiketa Kapur, described as a political aide to Congress leader Satish Sharma, meant to be given to MPs to vote for the government. ( Read: Sharma denies WikiLeaks claims on MPs' bribing )



Some MPs, Kapur allegedly told the diplomat, had already been paid money.



( Read: WikiLeaks expose: Left parties question PM's silence )



Advani pointed out that the 2008 Parliament trust vote related to the controversial India-US civil nuclear deal that threatened to topple Manmohan Singh's government when he headed the first UPA alliance.



"The American embassy was interested in the vote of confidence," the BJP leader said, and described the Congress as "a friendly party" in American view.



Advani rubbished finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's argument that a matter related to the earlier Lok Sabha could not be raised in the present Lok Sabha.



"The finance minister's defence in the Rajya Sabha that diplomatic immunity prevents the government from investigating the cables is of no avail. The diplomatic immunity extends to protecting the secrecy of the cable. The cable has already been released to the public. The diplomatic immunity does not extend to protect an Indian offender who has committed an act of bribery in India," he said.



Advani also rubbished Mukherjee's second defence that the offence has nothing to do with the 15th Lok Sabha as it occurred during the 14th Lok Sabha and that the bribery was committed outside Parliament.



"It was the time when delimitation was done and many MPs were vulnerable as they could lose their seats. The Congress approached those MPs who were vulnerable, they tried to find those who could be corrupted and use them. Our MPs acted as whistle blowers," Advani said.



"From stinking scams to suicides or maybe something else, there seem to be no end to the scandals and stink that accompanies this government. These allegations of corruption shall continue till it (UPA II) is in power," he said.