What about your 'taint'? Cong to BJP

NEW DELHI: Congress has hurled back at BJP on the charge of accommodating ''tainted'' ministers during the six-year NDA rule and has asked for an explanation of the presence of L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharati in the previous Vajpayee government.
The party on Tuesday recalled Vajpayee''s response to a motion moved by Jaipal Reddy in December 2000 justifying the induction of ministers accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
"Neither court nor law disqualifies a minister from holding office merely because a chargesheet has been filed by the police or formal charges framed by court," Congress spokesman Anand Sharma quoted Vajpayee as having said then.
Sharma accused BJP of "hypocrisy and doublespeak." His colleague Wasim Ahmed said that if Advani had quit the cabinet at that time, it would have set a precedent without leaving any scope for deviation. "No subsequent government would have the courage to induct chargesheeted ministers," he maintained.