Cong owes an explanation on KGB: Uma

NDTV: "In a strong defence of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP leader Uma Bharti today said it was the Congress and not the BJP, which owed an explanation to the country on funding in Indian polity by the KGB.

The former Prime Minister has been accused of having met KGB operatives during the days of Jan Sangh.

"KGB agents might have met a Jan Sangh leader or leaders of any political party, but how does that matter? What matters is whether the then Prime Minister of India or a top government functionary received any funds from the Soviet secret service," she said. She said KGB's meeting with any leader, including Vajpayee, did not affect the nation. But if the country's ruling establishment accepted money from a foreign secret service agency, the whole nation was affected.

"The Congress should tell the people if those in power in the 1970s accepted money from KGB to follow the agenda of the Soviets," she said. Bharti described BJP president LK Advani's demand for a white paper and an inquiry by a Supreme Court judge into the alleged funding by KGB as appropriate.

Former Jan Sangh leader Balraj Madhok has alleged that Vajpayee too had KGB links, a charge vehemently denied by BJP. (With PTI inputs)"