Expressing deep displeasure over India's response to the WikiLeaks cables, veteran BJP leader LK Advani on Thursday said "even now, they (UPA) should correct themselves".
Advani said every word of WikiLeaks founder's statement that appeared in Wednesday's newspapers is worth reading and referred to the latter's remarks that the government's response to the cables is one of the worst in the world.
He said when the government lost its majority in 2008, "everyone in the country, every chief minister, every minister, important office-bearer" was told to find out if there are MPs who are purchasable and those who lost seats due to delimitation of constituencies.
"We did see that the people were being bought", Advani said at a function after inaugurating the party's new office building.
He also said BJP gave a go-ahead to three of its MPs who sought to try if attempts were made to poach them, and they later "dumped" Rs one crore in Lok Sabha when confidence motion was being tabled.
"What kind of country is this...where bribe giver is not a criminal. The bribe shower is the criminal ?" the former deputy prime minister asked.
He said WikiLeaks also shown money being flaunted before US officials to reassure them that nuclear deal would go through and confidence vote would be won. "....in Independent India, has there been such a shameful scandal as it has happened in that case (bribing MPs to vote for confidence vote)".
{{/usCountry}}He said WikiLeaks also shown money being flaunted before US officials to reassure them that nuclear deal would go through and confidence vote would be won. "....in Independent India, has there been such a shameful scandal as it has happened in that case (bribing MPs to vote for confidence vote)".
{{/usCountry}}Noting that Assange has stated that India's response to WikiLeaks cables is "very, very bad" and "not acceptable", he commented "...even now, they (UPA government) should correct themselves". He did not elaborate on this comment.
Advani also said UPA had to accept the demand for a joint committee to draft Lokpal bill after Anna Hazare's fast. The country's reaction to scams that were coming to light was so tremendous that if anything had happened to Hazare, the government would not have survived.
"Therefore they (UPA) readily succumbed. Whatever he (Hazare) wants, accept it; does not matter (that was the approach of UPA)", he said. "Now, of course, he (Hazare) has said that whatever Parliament will decide, he (Hazare) will accept; that's a good thing".