Indian PM accuses Sonia of slander

Published January 1, 2001

NEW DELHI, March 26: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Tuesday made an emotional speech accusing opposition leader Sonia Gandhi of questioning his integrity during the debate on the anti-terrorism bill and sought an apology.

Vajpayee said he was forced to speak because of the “personal” attack on him by Sonia Gandhi in parliament earlier in the day.

In her speech on the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), Sonia accused Vajpayee of being under pressure and questioned if he would “be submissive in his leadership or will he uphold the prestige of the high office he holds”.—AFP

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