Liberhan indicted BJP leaders to stay off LS debate

PTI

New Delhi: The BJP has decided against fielding party leaders indicted by the Liberhan Commission during the discussions in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday which is expected to be dominated by the debate on two former prime ministers, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the late P.V. Narasimha Rao.

While the culpability of Mr Vajpayee by the Commission has come under attack from BJP and the Sangh Parivar, the clean chit to Rao has also attracted flak from the Left and the Right parties alike.

The BJP managers let it known that senior leaders Mr L.K. Advani and Mr Murli Manohar Joshi will not participate in the discussion following a decision by the party against fielding those indicted in the report.

While the BJP president, Mr Rajnath Singh, will initiate the debate on behalf of the party, its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Ms Sushma Swaraj, will be the second speaker.

The party sources added that Mr Advani, Mr Joshi and Mr Lalji Tandon can intervene at a personal level when their names are taken in the House.