Congress devaluing constitutional institutions: Advani

New Delhi, Feb 27 (ANI): Taking a dig at Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani said that its leaders had been repeatedly undermining the prestige of the country's democratic and constitutional institutions and values.

"Basically, I think that the present elections that are going on have underlined one more aspect of the Congress party's failure, and that is constitutional institutions being devalued, undermined, one after the other. First, Election Commission and then, the Constitution's article 356. These are matters of great concern for all those committed to democracy. These are serious matters," Advani told media here.

Advani further lauded the action taken by the Election Commission against Law Minister Salman Khurshid over his Muslim sub-quota remarks.

"I am very happy that the Election Commission reacted very strongly to what the Law Minister had done. Those were unprecedented things in the history of India. Never before has a Law Minister violated the model code of conduct," added Advani.

Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu criticised Congress leader Sriprakash Jaiswal for suggesting that Rahul Gandhi had the power to become Prime Minister whenever he wanted.

"They do not even care for the prestige of the Prime Minister and the country. The way, casually, Congressmen are speaking, they are making light of Mr. Manmohan Singh. This is Congress culture. What can we do? Prime Ministers are not made in midnight or overnight. People have to elect the Prime Minister," Naidu said

During a recent poll campaign, Khurshid publicly said that if the Congress Party was voted to power in the state, the sub-quota for Muslims would be increased to nine per cent within the 27 per cent reservation meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC).

A few days ago, Sriprakash Jaiswal created a flutter by saying if his party did not get a clear majority in the polls, President's Rule would have to be implemented in the state by invoking Article 356 of the Indian Constitution. (ANI)