Lokayukta slugfest far from over, Cong lawmakers to meet Prez

In a clear indication that the slugfest over appointment of Gujarat Lokyaukta is far from over, Congress MPs and MLAs from the state will meet President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday and submit a memorandum countering BJP's allegations over the issue.

At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Manish Tewari said that Governor Kamla Beniwal must have appointed the Lokayukta on the basis of some legal advice. "Since the issue is now before the court and is subjudice, it will be better if we allow the judicial process to conclude," Tewari told reporters while replying to a volley of questions on the issue.

A BJP delegation has already met the President over the issue on Friday demanding the recall of the Governor while Gujarat Chief Narendra Modi had also shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue.  Congress MPs and MLAs from the state will meet President Pratibha Patil tomorrow and submit a memorandum countering BJP's allegations over the issue, party sources said.

Proceedings in Parliament were disrupted today for the third running day over the issue. The sources said that the state leadership of Congress is quite serious on the Lokayukta issue and alleged that the protest by the BJP is just a ploy to avoid the appointment of the watchdog after their unpleasant experience in Karnataka.