Cong denies Kesri’s charge on coterie

Jogi was replying to questions about Kesri’s charge against senior party leader Arjun Singh that he led a coterie in the party that misguided Gandhi during the Lok Sabha polls.

Asked to comment on the decision of the new military government in Pakistan to probe leakage to India of the taped conversation between Army Chief Gen. Parvez Musharraf and his second in command during the Kargil crisis as also the sugar deal with India, he said what was happening in Pakistan was its internal matter.

Gandhi at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting had made it clear that the party would raise the issue in parliament, he said.

On the question if Congreess would welcome the probe as announced by Pakistan, he said, "We are talking only what is happening in India".

On political developments in Maharashtra, Jogi said the party’s objective of a secular government has been fulfilled with the installation of the Congress-NCP Government and the State as well as its people can expect a good governance which would bring peace and progress.

On the issue of speakership of the State Assembly, he merely said the matter would be sorted out soon by the Congress-NCP coalition.

Asked if the party ever discussed issues which led to the formation of NCP, he said, "What has happened has happened in the context of Maharashtra only".

On differences between NCP leader P A Sangma and its president Sharad Pawar on the formation of Congress-NCP led coalition government in Maharashtra, he said it was their internal party matter.

Asked about the demand for replacement of Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang in view of the poor performance of the party in the Lok Sabha elections in the State, he merely said, "No comments."