Blinded by lust for power, Natwar feigns amnesia: Cong

New Delhi, Feb 7 (UNI) Describing as ''political chicanery'' suspended party leader Natwar Singh raising the question of Ms Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, the Congress today said the issue was no longer relevant as it had been settled by the electorate time and again.

Mr Natwar Singh owed an explanation to the nation as to why did he fail to remember the foreign origin issue when he was enjoying power under the Congress regime holding important positions, Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi told reporters.

Replying to a query on why the party was not expelling the former External Affairs Minister despite all his anti-party activities, the spokesman said the Congress ''is not in the business of obliging him,'' indicating that the dissident leader was trying to retain his Rajya Sabha membership by securing his expulsion.

On the other hand, it was Mr Natwar Singh who should quit the party if he had serious doubts over the integrity of the Congress President, he averred.

The spokesman ridiculed Mr Natwar Singh for sharing the platform with Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh, who had sought his arrest in the wake of the Volcker committee report on the alleged involvement of Mr Singh in the UN food-for-oil programme for Iraq.

Mr Natwar Singh had exhibited ''moral and intellectual bankruptsy'' by raising the issue, which had been rejected by the electorate and the nation, because had been blinded by his lust for power. ''This is nothing but rank political chicanery,'' he said.

UNI