Monday, November 28 2005 15:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Opposition today (Nov 28, 2005) made a scathing attack on Government and Congress in the Lok Sabha over the Volcker report on the Iraqi oil pay-offs alleging that the scam involved not merely corruption but willingness to 'trade country's sovereignty and decision-making independence'.

Initiating a discussion on the adjournment motion moved by him on the issue, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani ridiculed ruling party's claims that the Volcker Committee report was an attempt to tarnish Congress.

Insisting that Volcker and members of his Independent Inquiry Committee constituted by the UN were 'leaders' in their respective fields, he wondered how the Committee could have been interested to malign Congress and its functionaries.

Noting that Congress President Sonia Gandhi took three weeks to express her indignation on the issue, he said the initial response of K Natwar Singh, who was named as 'non-contractual beneficiary' along with Congress by the Committee, was that the revelations were 'all bullshit and lies.'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President also made a strong plea for a discussion on the Mitrokhin Archives II document. He said this was necessary as the matter 'relate to vulnerability of Indian politics, politicians and political parties lure of big money.'

Earlier, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee rejected the Opposition demand for tabling in the House all documents collected by special envoy Virendra Dayal from the Volcker Committee while noting that the Justice Pathak Inquiry Authority, probing the issue, has already started its work.