New Delhi, Jun 05: Congress today defended Uttar Pradesh Governor`s refusal to give sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Mayawati in Taj corridor case against her while opposition BJP and UPA`s key ally CPM flayed it as a "politically motivated" move.
Congress spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi said his party saw nothing wrong in Mayawati getting reprieve from Governor T V Rajeswar in the case and dismissed suggestions it was a `quid-pro-quo` for BSP`s support in Presidential elections.
"Governor is well within his powers. I have no reason to be dissatisfied. You are venturing into blues. I don`t think it should be linked to any other thing," Chaturvedi told reporters here when asked to comment.
He said there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute her.
Jayanthi Natarajan, another spokesperson of Congress, said it was "unfair" to connect the meetings Mayawati had with Congress leaders after her taking over power last month and Rajeshwar`s refusal to give sanction to prosecute her in the case.
The meetings Mayawati had with Congress leaders were "political" in nature.
The BJP criticised the UP Governor saying he has taken a "political decision" and indicated the party would make it an issue in the coming days.
"The Governor`s action is totally politically motivated," party`s National Executive Member Sheshadri Chari said and accused Congress of politicising the Governor`s post.
Senior CPM lK Pandhe smelt a rat in the Governor`s refusal to give sanction to prosecute Mayawati in the Taj corridor case suspecting some "behind-the-scene deal" between her and Congress.
Pandhe said some "political bargaining or a behind-the-scene deal between the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress cannot be ruled out."
"Some political give and take might have been there," he said when asked about CPM`s reaction to the Governor`s action.
The CPI, however, refused to react to Rajeshwar`s action with its General Secretary A B Bardhan saying that "I do not want to trouble her now."
Bureau Report
