NEW DELHI, INDIA: 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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No comments on Wikileaks: US embassy
NEW DELHI, INDIA: 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.