New Delhi: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor George Fernandes today (March 23, 2004) said that it was a "mistake" that a law to bar people of foreign origin from holding high Constitutional posts was not passed by the Alliance Government.

"I think it is a mistake that it was held back," he said on the sidelines of a function to mark the birth anniversary of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.

When pointed out that Constitutional Review Committee set up by the NDA Government also did not make such a recommendation, Fernandes said, "That also I think was a mistake. Whoever has committed it, did a wrong."

Fernandes' statement comes in the wake of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's remarks yesterday that she did not attach much significance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition's plans to enact a legislation to debar persons of foreign origin from holding high Constitutional offices.

"Why did not they bring such a legislation earlier," she had asked.