New Delhi: Hitting out at BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders for accusing the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government of indulging in political vendetta, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Oct 7, 2004) said people living in glass houses should not throw stones at others.

"So far as the question of political vendetta is concerned, some of the BJP leaders being members of the Government went to the highest extent. When somebody lives in a glass house, they should not throw stones at others," he said in an interview to NDTV in response to attacks by BJP leaders, especially L K Advani at the Government in the wake of the Government's decision to institute a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry into Tehelka episode.

Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani and NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Convenor George Fernandes, he asked, "Did not they dig the farm house of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and take her to Manipur for being co-accused in a theft case (in 1977)."

To a question whether there was any move to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur, Mukherjee said, "It is an extraordinary power no doubt. This extraordinary power should not be used unless the situation is really grave. What is happening in those areas is not normal. Unless normalcy comes back, it is difficult to say that the Special Powers Act should not be used."

On his being now elevated to number two position in the Union Cabinet, Mukherjee said, "He (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) asked me to preside over the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and there is nothing like number two, three or four. This job is nothing new. I did the job twenty years ago. Mrs Indira Gandhi used to leave instructions. Now after Sonia Gandhi, it is Prime Minister."