Congress targets Kiran Bedi over airfare row

Stepping up attack on Team Anna following allegations against Kiran Bedi, Congress today said it shows the "true colours" of the Gandhian's associates and asked her to come clean on it.

"Bedi must first prove herself clean to the people before she fights against corruption.... It is very unfortunate that while, on one hand she fights against corruption, on the other she should be doing all this," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.

He said, "One colleague of Anna Hazare demands plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, the other says Anna is above Parliament and now the third one is found charging more money from her hosts than she actually paid on her airfare. All of them are now showing their true colours."

His remarks came after allegations were levelled against Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, that she used her gallantry medal to get 75% discount on Air India tickets and then submitted inflated invoices to claim full fare from the organisers who invited her to a function.

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh termed it a "very serious allegation" and insisted that Bedi should come clean in this.

Reacting to the allegations, Bedi, however, said, "Business class travel is part of the invitation or entitlement from the event organisers or corporates I'm asked to speak at. Travelling economy is a choice despite entitlement is to ensure that savings remain with the NGO.

"(There is) no personal gain here. Sorry to disappoint detractors trying real hard to find a smoking gun. However, I accept this kind of coverage as a part of the challenges which being in public life poses," she said.