Shimla: The Congress today (Sep 7, 2004) said it favoured a fresh Commission of Inquiry to go into the Tehelka tapes like the new probe ordered by UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government into Godhra train carnage.

Party General Secretary Ambika told reporters in Shimla that though it was the prerogative of the Government, Congress was always for a fresh probe besides the one conducted by Justice Phukan Commission so that the truth was revealed at the earliest.

She said Congress' stand on corruption was clear and unambiguous--that the guilty must be punished and would not act in the manner in which the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government had acted in the case of Dilip Singh Judeo.

She said while the NDA Government had re-inducted the then Defence Minister George Fernandes in the Cabinet even before he was "exonerated" in Tehelka case, it had kept the sword hanging in Bofors case inspite of public demand by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to "hold the inquiry expeditiously and punish those found guilty".

Replying to a question, she said the Manmohan Singh Government would not indulge in witch-hunting and waste precious time in probing "trivial" issues.