Manmohan Singh must quit, says Vaidya

Nagpur, Sep 16 (UNI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue M G Vaidya has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his government had hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community by submitting before the Supreme Court a controversial affidavit questioning the historical existence of characters and events depicted in the Holy Ramayana.

Writing in his weekly column in local Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat' here today, Mr Vaidya said that the fact that the government offered to withdraw the affidavit and submit a fresh one meant that it had admitted its mistake. Resignation would be the minimum 'punishment' for the unpardonable 'sin' that the government had committed, he said. ''The entire government must go, for which Dr Singh must quit,'' he also said.

The new government that would assume power at the Centre would be that of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) itself, but Dr Singh would not be the Prime Minister nor would Hansaraj Bharadwaj find a place in the cabinet, he said.

Mr Vaidya dismissed as baseless reports that it was Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who had advised the government to withdraw the controversial affidavit in the apex court, and described them as the outcome of the sycophancy of the party's leaders. ''However, if Ms Gandhi has indeed given the advice, then she must also advise Dr Singh to quit,'' he said.

Workers of the Congress must now reject the leadership of an 'alien' person, who was born outside India and was completely unaware of the country's culture, ideals and ethos, Mr Vaidya said without naming anyone. Only then they would be able to save their 125-year old party from destruction, he added.

UNI