Mangalore: Minister Oscar denies Sonia Gandhi’s interference in PM Office

Pics by John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 14 Apr 2014: Reacting to the recent controversy over Sanjay Baru’s book ’The Accidental Prime Minister’ that branded PM Dr Manmohan Singh as a ’rubber stamp’, union minister Oscar Fernandes said that PM was chosen to the post by AICC president Sonia Gandhi and both of them worked together for the progress of the nation.
 
Addressing a media conference at Congress LS poll campaign office here on Monday April 14, minister Oscar claimed that the book has the author’s personal viewpoint on the functioning of PM. ‘However, this was a prejudiced opinion as the PM has only sought the advice of AICC president Sonia Gandhi to run the administration. This is a democratic nation and government is run by the federal structure laid down by the Indian Constitution. There is no question of interference by Sonia Gandhi in the functioning of the PMO when the union cabinet head was selected by her,’ said minister Oscar.

 

The minister Oscar lauded 10-year regime of the Congress-led UPA and said it was able to translate dreams into reality.

When media persons raised further queries on Sanjay Baru’s book, the minister Oscar declined to comment and said PMO has already clarified its stand on the controversy raked by the book.

 

On BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s marital status, minister Oscar said Modi should explain the reasons that deterred him from revealing the truth for so long. ‘Modi has at last listened to the frequent advices given by Dakshina Kannada LS candidate Janardhan Poojary to file an affidavit disclosing his marital with the returning officer of Varanasi,’ said minister Oscar.

The minister Oscar added that India being a democratic country, the people will ultimately decide who they want as their PM.

 

 

Replying to charges that Congress was biased in its stand on allegations of corruption against Robert Vadra, the minister Oscar defended the party saying the judiciary was the ultimate authority to decide on the matter. ‘He (Vadra) would be punished if found guilty,’ said minister Oscar.

 

The minister Oscar rubbished reports of the state minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and MLA Pramod Madhwaraj intentionally refraining from actively taking part in LS poll campaign. He said he would advise the party in Udupi - Chikmagalur constituency to strengthen the campaign.

 
The former Goa CM Luizinho Faleiro who was at the media conference said one should not believe in the so-called Gujarat model of development as the state has been doing poorly in several indicators. ‘Decline in the rate of employment, malnutrition, and farmers being deprived of electricity are the key problems that are burdening Gujarat,’ said Faleiro.

 

‘The country cannot have a structure of development based on the development achieved in just one state. Gujarat stinks with the memories of 2002 riots in contrast to Modi’s claims of development,’ stressed Faleiro.