27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday took a swipe at the heirs of the country's most influential political family, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, questioning their political credentials ahead of polls.

The party's General Secretary Pramod Mahajan said that only those born to Indian parents could be eligible for the office of the prime minister, alluding to the Gandhi siblings' Italian-born mother Sonia, leader of Congress Party.

"The prime ministership of this country should be open to those born of Indian parents only," he said at a conference in Kolkata. The BJP has repeatedly targeted Sonia Gandhi by raising the issue of her "foreign origin" to say that she should not be considered as a prime ministerial candidate.

Her daughter, Priyanka, and son, Rahul, are expected to campaign for the Congress Party and speculation has been rife that they may contest the general elections expected to be held in April.

"It is a fact that Sonia Gandhi is an Indian citizen and she is the president of Congress party. She is also the leader of opposition, nobody disputes these facts," said Mr Mahajan.

"I also respect her, but it hurts my national pride to think that someone born outside the country should be foisted as the candidate for the post of prime minister," he added.-AFP