Will resolve Adarsh issue soon: Sonia Gandhi
New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS): The Adarsh housing society issue will be resolved soon, but the media should also look at corruption cases in the non-Congress ruled states, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said.
"Adarsh issue has been discussed within the party and will be resolved. Corruption and inflation remain the key issues for us," Sonia Gandhi told reporters at the sidelines of the Congress's foundation day celebrations at the party's national headquarters here Saturday.
She added: "Media should also look at corruption in some other states ruled by the opposition parties. Look at us by all means, and point out our mistakes, but do look at others also."
"We have big challenges, but we are determined to be together and to fight and to win," she said.
The Congress president's comments came a day after the party's vice president Rahul Gandhi said the Adarsh housing society scam report should be reconsidered.
The Maharashtra government Dec 20 tabled the probe report on the Adarsh Society scam in the state assembly and then rejected it.
The report - by a two-member commission comprising former high court judge J.A. Patil, and former chief secretary P. Subramanium - described the scam as reeking of "greed, nepotism and favouritism" by those in authority who twisted laws, setting "a bad precedent".
Earlier Report
Rahul disapproves Maha govt rejection of Adarsh report
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI): Rahul Gandhi, who has of late been talking about corruption, today disapproved the decision of the Congress government in Maharashtra to reject a judicial commission's report on Adarsh scam and said it should be reconsidered.
"Personally, I don't agree with that decision. They (Maharashtra) should reconsider that," the Congress Vice President said here at a press conference where Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was present.
He was responding to a question on rejection by the Maharashtra government of the judicial commission's report on Adarsh scam in which three former Congress Chief Ministers faced allegations of irregularities.
"There is no question of protecting anybody... They should reconsider," Gandhi said at the press conference at the AICC headquarters.
Soon after the press conference, Chavan was pressed by reporters for his reaction. He replied by saying that he will consult his colleagues on the issue.
The Maharashtra government last week rejected the report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the Adarsh scam which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
The report of the two-member commission headed by retired High Court judge J A Patil indicted several politicians including three former Chief Ministers for "blatant violations" of statutory provisions.
The report came down heavily on those in authority describing the scam as a "bad precedent" which reflected "greed, nepotism and favouritism" by those associated with it.
Gandhi's assertion came while he was talking about the Congress' determination to fight corruption.
He chaired a meeting of Congress Chief Ministers and said a decision had been taken that all the states ruled by the party will enact Lokayuktas modelled on the Lokpal Act by February 28 next year.
Gandhi's disapproval of the Maharashtra government on Adarsh came close on the heels of his close aide and union minister Milind Deora saying the matter should be investigated instead of being hushed up.
Earlier, Gandhi had trashed an Ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet to negate a Supreme Court judgement which provided for immediate disqualification of MPs and MLAs after conviction. The Government had then withdrawn the Ordinance.
Asserting that corruption could not be defeated only by the Lokpal Act, Rahul Gandhi said a proper framework requires to be put in place for which a number of legislations were needed. In this context, he attacked BJP for blocking passage of these legislations.
"These days, we hear big talk about fighting corruption... We hear again and again and again and again about corruption. But there is no action... Talks have become a fashion..," Gandhi said in an apparent attack on BJP and its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Pointing out that a number of bills are pending in Parliament, the agitated leader said, "We want a framework... But we are blocked in Parliament. If they (opposition) are serious, let's stop talking and start acting. We are dead serious (on fighting corruption)."
He went on to add, "let's have a session of Parliament and create a framework. Whenever we talk about creating a framework, there is complete silence on the other (opposition) side. I don't hear 'let's pass these bills'."
He emphasised that the country will hugely benefit if a proper framework to fight corruption is put in place, instead of mere talking.
Seeking to highlight the Congress' determination to fight corruption, Gandhi said the UPA government had proposed a number of legislations in this regard.