No comments on Wikileaks: US embassy
March 17th, 2011 - 5:42 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The US embassy here Thursday refused to comment on the publication of leaked diplomatic cables which allege that MPs were paid off by Congress-led government to survive a parliamentary trust vote in 2008.
“The US Department of State does not comment on materials, including classified documents, which may have been leaked. We cannot speak to the authenticity of any documents provided to the press,” a US embassy spokesperson said here.
US diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks and published by The Hindu newspaper say that that payoffs had been made to MPs to ensure a majority for the Congress-led government in the confidence vote after the Left parties withdrew their support due to their opposition to the India-US nuclear deal.
Nachiketa Kapur, described as a political aide of Congress leader Satish Sharma, is quoted as saying that a fund of Rs.50 crore had been formed to pay off MPs. He also apparently showed two chests containing cash meant for the pay-offs. Sharma said Thursday he had no aide named Kapur.
On Thursday, the clamour for the government’s resignation that forced adjournments in both houses of parliament, saw the Left parties, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party, amongst others, unite against the Congress-led government.
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- PM 'rejects firmly' bribery allegation on 2008 trust vote (Lead) - Mar 18, 2011
- Government must go, says opposition after WikiLeaks disclosures (Afternoon Lead) - Mar 17, 2011
- Go Manmohan, says opposition after WikiLeaks expose (Intro-Roundup) - Mar 17, 2011
- WikiLeaks expose: US embassy refuses to comment - Mar 17, 2011
- PM declares innocence on 2008 trust vote scam - Mar 18, 2011
- WikiLeaks disclosure: Allegations totally baseless, says Sharma - Mar 17, 2011
- PM to make statement on Wiki expose, Lok Sabha adjourned (Lead) - Mar 18, 2011
- Satish Sharma denies knowing 'aide' named in US cable - Mar 17, 2011
- PM should quit over WikiLeaks revelations: Advani (Second Lead) - Mar 17, 2011
- NDA asks PM to quit over WikiLeaks bombshell (Lead) - Mar 17, 2011
- United opposition walks out over 'vote-for-cash' WikiLeaks - Mar 17, 2011
- PM has no authority to continue: Third Front - Mar 17, 2011
- WikiLeaks disclosure: 'I have not witnessed anything', says Kapur - Mar 17, 2011
Tags: authenticity, bjp, chests, clamour, confidence vote, congress leader, crore, department of state, houses of parliament, left parties, nuclear deal, payoffs, rs 50, Samajwadi Party, satish sharma, spokesperson, trust vote, us department of state, us embassy new delhi, wikileaks