NDA to back Dr Kalam if consensus builds up around him

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) Describing Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's statement that he would be happy if consensus was built around President A P J Abdul Kalam as he ''gesture of a statesman,'' the NDA today said the ball was in Congress court to respond to the 'call of the time'.

NDA Spokesman Sushma Swaraj said that the Third Front, now rechristened as United National Progressive Alliance, had called for a consensus on Dr Kalam and the Vice President had responded to their call in a positive manner.''Now it is the turn of the Congress to respond,'' she said, but made it clear that Mr Shekhawat will be the NDA's candidate should there a contest for the top constitutional post.

Calling on Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take the nation into confidence and clarify to the nation why the UPA did not deem it fit to offer a second term to Dr Kalam who had earned nation's gratitude by his good work, she said that the NDA was the first to offer him a second term but he forbid them from taking the initiative. "These two UPA leaders owe an explanation to the country what was the defect they had found in Dr Kalam who had acquitted himself honourably all this period", she remarked.

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