Congress defends UNPA decision on abstention in Prez poll

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) The Congress Party today criticised the BJP for its "infructous" efforts to persuade the Election Commission to delcare as unconstitutional the decision of the Third Front to abstain from voting in tomorrow's presidential election, and said this was nothing but "a last attempt to hold on to the last straws of a sinking ship." "What surprises us is the immature and puerile handling of the situation by the BJP, running from pillar to post hoping for a miracle," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also Convenor of the AICC National Media Committee, said here.

Defending the decision of the Third Front (UNPA) and also the ruling of the EC in favour of UNPA stand, he said the UNPA's call for abstention was not in the nature of a whip issued, but it reflected a political consensus of an entity representing a point of view.

"Mature politicians and political parties should have the presclence to foresee the immediate future rather than seek through means, fair or foul to change the inevitability of the course of events," Mr Sibal said.

Referring to the delegation led by Leader of Opposition L K Advani to the EC on the issue of UNPA abstention, he said "the BJP has committed yet another error both of procedure and substance, reflecting its double speak." Recalling the BJP's "whip" in favour of impeachment of Justice Ramaswamy, he said this was unthinkable in any democratic system as it was issued in a process, which was essentially adjudicatory.

"The same BJP and its few allies now consider the reflection of a political consensus as a procedure which falls foul of the Constitution." He said the Presidential campaign of the BJP had once again exposed that it is indeed a party with a difference. "The difference is that unlike any other political entity it says it believes in Ram, but its actions remind one of Ravana." UNI SH RN KN2101