Opposition signs petitions over minister's call to HC judge
July 14, 2009 04:01 IST
75 MPs of both houses of Parliament belonging to three major opposition parties the Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Bahujan Samaja Party and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham have signed a four-page petition to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, urging him to make a statement in both houses of Parliament on issue of Union Minister A Raja's being accused by a Chennai High Court Judge of trying to influence a case.
The signature campaign is on, and it is expected to gain momentum on Tuesday, when the BJP is expected to openly solicit signatures from MPs.
Chief Justice of India, K G Balakrishnan reacted strongly to the news about the reported phone talk between the judge and a Union Minister saying "if the Minister had spoken to the judge, then it would amount to interference with judiciary."
The CPM is getting the signatures of all the Left front MPs,while another joint letter from Arun Jaitley the Leader
of Opposition will have the signatures of the AIADMK, BSP and other smaller parties. The contents of the letter is not readily known but the BJP is likely to release it to the media on Wednesday as many of its MPs of Lok Sabha did not turn up on Monday.
M Thambidurai and Dr V Maitreyan sought direction from BJP leader LK Advani to get more signatures from BJP MPs. The letter was drafted by Arun Jaitely and Dr Maitreyan, has been clearded by AIADMK leader Jayalalitha. Now the AIADMK MPs are busy personally going to each of the Opposition MPs. The opposition is likely to raise this issue in both houses when PM is present.
A Correspondent in Delhi
