New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) With the opposition targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of the apex court quashing the appointment of P.J. Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner, the Congress core committee met here Thursday to discuss the government’s response to the situation.
Congress sources said that all members of the core committee attended the meeting that lasted nearly 90 minutes at the prime minister’s residence.
The prime minister is expected to make a statement on the issue in parliament.
The sources said that core committee also discussed the seat sharing talks with DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Apart from Manmohan Singh and Gandhi, the Congress core committee includes Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress president.
The opposition has launched a vociferous attack on the government, particularly Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram who were members of the panel that took the decision to appoint Thomas as CVC.
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who was also member of the panel, had disagreed over the name of Thomas due to a pending case of alleged corruption against him in import of palm oil.
The BJP has asked the prime minister if he would accept moral responsibility for the decision. The party also made a veiled attack on United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The Congress, earlier in the day, admitted that the appointment of Thomas as CVC was an error but rejected demands for the resignation of the prime minister and home minister.
