Thiruvananthapuram: Suspended Congress leader and former external affairs minister Natwar Singh on Sunday attacked Defence Minister A K Antony, saying he was the wrong man for the post and also challenged him oust him from the party.
"I challenge Antony as disciplinary committee chairman to expel me from the Congress party. I had written to him that he has no moral right to take action against me because Antony himself was expelled from the party for six years," he said.
Natwar Singh, who was suspended from the party this year after an inquiry indicted him and his son Jagat Singh for their role in Iraq's oil-for-food scam, is in the Kerala capital to discuss a possible alliance with former Congress leader K Karunakaran.
"The defence ministry is the most crucial ministry and we need leadership and clarity of thought. Because it involves working with millions of serving and former defence officials. You people know Antony better and I would be the first person to concede to him if he proves otherwise," said Natwar Singh.
He said the coming year would be very crucial for Indian politics. "We are having elections in Uttar Pradesh and a few other states and also elections to elect the President and Vice-President. This will see hectic political activity and new groupings taking place on the political front."
On his political future, Natwar Singh said matters were slowly moving forward. "There has been no decision to join the Nationalist Congress Party. We are talking with people who have like-minded views and, remember, we all are Nehurvites," he said.
Natwar Singh said, henceforth, he would be seen more frequently in Kerala as Karunakaran, who is 86, may not be able to go to Delhi often.
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