Congress on Thursday dismissed Mitrokhin papers as "rubbish" and rejected Bharatiya Janata Party's demand for a discussion on the "fictional" document that had carried allegations that Russian intelligence agency KGB funded Congress and Communist Party of India-Marxist in 1970s. "First of all we reject such an insinuation. It is nothing but rubbish. There has been no precedent when fictional accounts are discussed in Parliament," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters when asked about BJP's demand for a discussion on Mitrokhin Archives.
Ex-Russian ambassador rubbishes Mitrokhin
Recalling instances, he said there were several occasions when "fiction" was not allowed to be discussed. "When it comes to books, many were written during National Democratic Alliance rule, including one on Tehelka, which were not allowed a discussion.
"If BJP is willing to discuss fictions and books, then they should also be ready for a discussion on the book on Mahatma Gandhi's [Images] assassination," Sharma said.
He also made it clear that Mitrokhin papers had no evidential value. "Its a fictional account and the time of this House cannot be wasted in discussing it. It would be setting an "unhealthy" precedent," he added.
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