'Katara episode exposed true face of Narendra Modi'

Varanasi, Apr 19 (UNI) Congress today alleged the arrest of BJP MP Babu-bhai Katara had exposed the true face of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The second term MP from Dahod (Gujarat), who was arrested on charges including impersonation after allegedly trying to take a woman and teenaged boy to Canada on diplomatic passports of his wife and son, is a close confidant of Mr Modi, Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal charged at a press conference here.

''He (Katara) is already facing trial in the Godhra riot case and was released from jail two weeks ago. Now, he has again been arrested consequently exposing the true face of the Gujarat CM. The episode also highlights how corrupt BJP regime in Gujarat is,'' Mr Sibal alleged.

The Union Minister added ''instead of expelling the tainted MP, the BJP has merely suspended him. Besides, no raids have been conducted at premises of Katara, which proves that the Gujarat CM is trying to save Katara.'' Mr Sibal said this is not the first time that BJP MPs have been caught on charges of corruption. In the recent past, six BJP MPs were caught accepting bribes on camera resulting in their disqualification from Parliament.

''Even Katara has been taking women to countries like US and Netherlands on passports of others in the past,'' he alleged.

He announced that Congress will make BJP MP's arrest a major issue in the remaining four phases of UP Assembly poll. ''Along with the objectionable CD issue, the arrest of Katara will also be made a poll issue in the state.'' Terming the BJP a 'CD party' (a party of confidential discourses), Mr Sibal said even the BJP has now come to admit that the CD containing ''objectionable'' content should not have been released. The senior counsel who contested the case for Congress in the Election Commission claimed ''my arguments have compelled BJP to accept that such a CD should not have been released at all.'' About the role of Cong MP Rahul Gandhi in future UP politics, Mr Sibal said ''Mr Gandhi has revived the fortunes of party, which will throw a major surprise reflected in polls.'' He further said ''Rahul is not only the future of UP, but the future of entire nation.'' UNI ARS ATI SHB VC2128