'We are not concerned with horse-trading'

Lucknow, Jul 18: All India Congress Committee General Secretary and the in-charge of the party's Uttar Pradesh affairs, Digvijay Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday, July 18 separately refuted allegations of horse-trading of MPs made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of Tuesday's vote of confidence in Parliament.

Digvijay Singh told reporters after attending a party function in Lucknow that the Congress has never compromised on issues concerned with national interest for any political gain. He retaliated the charge that Senior BJP leader L K Advani is indulging himself in horse-trading to become the country's next prime minister.

"Advani is shaking hands with Bahujan Samaj Party (BMS) for the post of prime minister. Is it not horse-trading? The Congress party doesn't believe in horse-trading. We have appealed to all the respected parliamentarians to listen to their inner voice and vote as per their own conscience," he said.

Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, Pranab Mukherjee said: "We are not concerned with any horse-trading. This is malicious propaganda."

The government needs to reach the 272 mark in the Lok Sabha to win the vote of confidence.

ANI