Cong concerned about Mamata's health

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) The Congress today expressed concern over the deteriorating health of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee sitting on fast and said the W Bengal Government must find a way out of the issue sooner than later.

"The state Government must do something before any mishap takes place," Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, adding both sides should initiate a dialogue.

Asked how far was the Trinamool Congress leader justified in going on fast, he said," we are not concerned about the merits of the case." Replying to a question, Mr Singhvi pointed out that the Congress had backed Ms Banerjee's campaign. He pointed out that the Congress stand on acquisition of farmers land was that farmers must be adequately compensated for their land acquired.

Asked about the Centre's intervention in the case, he said the Centre had done what it could do by persuasion and requests.

To a question on Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's suggestion for projection of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh during the next Assembly elections, the Congress Spokesman shot back," you ask Mr Lalu Prasad about it." He pointed out that Mr Gandhi was the leader of the future of the country."All view Mr Gandhi as a future leader of the coountry." About former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh daring the Congress leadership to expel him from the party, Mr Singhvi said,"wait and watch." The Congress demanded a CBI inquiry into the mysterious disappearance and murder of Kavita Chaudhary, lecturer in Charan Singh University in Meerut, saying whatever facts have emerged should be thoroughly investigated by an outside agency.

About the execution of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussain ordered by the highest court there, Mr Singhvi said no such process should be adopted to punish the Iraqi leader in which the Iraqi people had no faith.

UNI YS RP KN1946