THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, 20 November 2006 — Suspended Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh yesterday challenged Congress party disciplinary committee chairman and Defense Minister A.K. Antony to expel him from the party.
“I challenge Antony as disciplinary committee chairman to expel me from the Congress party. I had written to him that he has no moral right to take action against me because he himself was expelled from the party for six years,” he told reporters here.
Natwar Singh, who was suspended from the party this year after an inquiry indicted him and his son Jagat Singh for their role in Iraq’s oil-for-food scam, is in the Kerala capital to discuss a possible alliance with former Congress leader K. Karunakaran.
“The Defense Ministry is the most crucial ministry and we need leadership and clarity of thought because it involves working with millions of serving and former defense officials. You people know Antony better, and I would be the first person to concede to him if he proves otherwise,” said Natwar Singh.
He also made a scathing attack on the country’s foreign policy, saying it was toeing the US line and questioned Antony’s capability to protect India’s borders as defense minister. “I don’t think a critical portfolio like defense would be safe in the hands of Antony.”
