Bangalore: Stepping up the attack on Congress on the Sonia Gandhi issue, Defence Minister and NDA (National Democratic Alliance) convenor George Fernandes today (Apr 03, 2004) said barring persons of foreign origin from occupying high Constitutional posts would figure in the NDA "manifesto" to be released on April 8.

"I have no hesitation in saying this is an issue that will figure in our manifesto," Fernandes said, as he called it a "disgrace" that the Congress could not produce a "single person" who was born in this country to lead the party and aspire for Prime Ministership or Presidentship.

Asked if the unfinished agenda of NDA included barring persons of foreign origin from holding high Constitutional posts, he said "yes", but added he would not like to "open out now on the entire programme we are planning".

In his initial remarks at the meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore, Fernandes said the Congress is a 120-year-old party, which was in the forefront of freedom movement.

But, he said, "They cannot produce a single person, man or woman, who was born in this country to lead the party and aspire for Prime Ministership or Presidentship. (It) is something I call a disgrace."

Fernandes said this was an issue that needed to be brought before the people and the country must be saved from "this kind of humiliation". He however did not name Sonia Gandhi.

He said that apart from developmental work and continuation of the work done in the last five years, the other issue was "honour and dignity of the nation".

"For a nation of a billion people... the party still called by the name of Indian National Congress," Fernandes remarked, noting that Mahatma Gandhi wanted the Congress to be disbanded soon after the Independence.

Gandhi, he said, had a reason suggesting disbanding the Congress as in 1937 when the party came to power in all presidencies barring two, people would complain to him at his prayer meetings that its Ministers had become corrupt.

"Gandhi would shed tears" during the meetings and say if this was the situation before Independence, what would happen after the Independence, he said, adding there were records on it. "That was why he said disband the Congress" but its leaders did not, he said.

Asked about some "controversial issues" like Ayodhya raised in the "Vision Document" of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), he said BJP was a party "that has its own history, policies and programmes". But as far as governance was concerned, it was NDA which formulates the agenda and runs the Government.

On the Ayodhya issue, he said, "I don't think anyone is against the temple" but the question was "when, where and under which situation".

Fernandes said that he was with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani during his "Bharat Uday Yatra" in Maharashtra and when a section of the crowd raised the temple issue, Advani made it clear that it could be solved either by court or dialogue and the second option was much better. "There was nothing in his speeches that I am doing this for the sake of Mandir alone."