Pune: Holding the Centre responsible for the multi-crore fake stamp paper racket, senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Shivraj Patil today (Mar 21, 2004) said the Union Finance Ministry owed an explanation about it.

"How could the prime accused in the stamp paper racket develop links with the India Security Press (ISP) of Nasik and get dyes and machineries used for making fake stamp papers. More than the State (Maharashtra), it is the Centre which should be made responsible as the ISP comes under it," Patil said at a press conference.

Referring to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's warning to foreign authors against playing with country's pride in the backdrop of James Laine's controversial book on Shivaji, Patil said, "Vajpayee is making a flip-flop on the issue."

Asked why the party has not been able to declare its Prime Ministerial candidate as the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) had projected Vajpayee, Patil said, "One can admire great leaders but one should remember that the people are not bigger than the political philosophies."

Asked whether Rahul and Priyanka will actively campaign for the Congress, Patil said, "Both of them represent the aspirations of the youth. So one can hope that they will take active interest in politics."