Sunday, October 2 2005 15:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress and Communist Party of India (CPI) today (Oct 2, 2005) dismissed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief L K Advani's demand for a probe into the Mitrokhin papers controversy and a white paper on foreign funding in Indian polity, saying it was a 'belated reaction' from a 'besieged leader' of a party which was in 'total disarray.'

"It is a belated reaction from a besieged President of a party struggling to find its relevance and direction," Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma told PTI over phone from Nasik when asked about Advani's demands.

He said the allegations levelled by the former KGB officer about incidents that were three decades old 'lacked credibility.'

"They cannot be given any credence by any responsible leadership. The nature and timing of the matter are both intriguing and questionable," he said.

Sharma advised Advani to focus on the organisation he headed which is caught in a terrible storm and is also immersed in scams and scandals of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime."

Sharing his sentiment, CPI National Secretary D Raja said the BJP was in total disarray, ideologically, politically and organisationally.

"I pity Advani. He is crestfallen in his organisation and is trying to beat a dead horse which is not going to gain anything," Raja told PTI.

Dismissing with contempt the slanderous and baseless issues Advani had raised, Raja said, "He has no other issue to raise for the people of the country."