Corruption not on agenda at AICC meet

The Congress leadership chose to skip any mention of corruption at a meeting of the AICC meeting.

On the backfoot over allegations of corruption involving many of its leaders in the controversial allotments of flats in Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society in Mumbai and also in Commonwealth Games,the Congress leadership chose to skip any mention of corruption at a meeting of the AICC here on Tuesday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh conceded that corruption was a big issue,but justified the partys silence saying that the party has a code of ethics that is being followed and it does not have to be repeated in every speech. Besides,Congress president Sonia Gandhi has constituted a panel to investigate into the allegations. A K Antony and Pranab Mukherjee have been given the responsibility to inquire into it and things will follow, said Singh. Dont forget there are leaders of BJP and Shiv Sena also involved. As for allegations regarding CWG,he said that they were also being probed.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan,who is embroiled in the controversy over the Adarsh housing society scam,was seated right behind Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the dais at the AICC meet. CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi was also present at the meeting. Congress sources said that any decision on Chavans resignation offer would be taken after November 8.

Meanwhile,the NCP on Tuesday said it would continue to support the coalition government in the state even if there is a change of guard in the Congress leadership. We have a coalition government in Maharashtra with the Congress party. A decision has to be taken by them alone. As far as NCP is concerned,we fully support the Congress-led government, senior NCP leader and Union Minister Praful Patel told reporters.

We have a formula by which we have been working for the last 10 years in government with the Congress. Therefore,that arrangement continues, Patel said,adding that his party has nothing to do with what Congress decides on its leader.

As far as I am aware,there is no communication to the NCP. So why should we assume that there is a change of guard. That is for the Congress to decide. As far as NCP is concerned,in government nobody supports any scam. Let there be a proper inquiry. Once the inquiry is complete,we will comment, Patel said.