Monday, November 7 2005 19:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Slamming the decision to divest Natwar Singh of the External Affairs portfolio as an 'unsavoury deal', BJP today said the 'compromise solution' has made the needle of suspicion against the Congress party stronger and eroded further the Prime Ministerial authority.

"This unsavoury deal makes the Natwar Singh issue murkier and murkier. Till this date, the Congress has been suggesting that it may a case of individual misdemeanour but the party has nothing to do with it but with this compromise solution, the needle of suspicion against the Congress party becomes stronger", party General Secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley told sources.

Natwar Singh, he alleged, embarrassed the whole country, the Government and his party.

"He created a public scene and the earned a prize for silence. The Prime Ministerial authority is eroded further", Jaitley said.