Shinde backs Congress support to AAP

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has backed the ruling Congress for extending support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Shinde said: "AAP is a party that wanted to come to power and wanted to give a clean government. When topics like clean governance and corruption are highlighted, the Congress Government supports it."

Shinde's remark came shortly after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, after which he wrote a detailed letter to both the Congress Party and the BJP, seeking answers to issues affecting the common man.

BJP leader Balbir Punj, however, criticised Kejriwal, saying that he was trying to dictate terms to both Congress and BJP with a fractured mandate.

On the Lokpal Bill, Shinde said: "We have promised the country, and especially Anna Hazare, that we will bring and pass this bill in both houses."

On the recent Supreme Court verdict that overturned Section 377 of the IPC that decriminalises gay sex, Shinde said the party's leaders have aired their responses, and the party workers are with them.