Reiterate standing invite to Former C&AG Rai Sahib to debate at any forum of his choicesensationalism that formed the staple of his tenure ? — Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 24, 2014

So after Sanjay Baru & Natwar Singh it's former CAG Vinod Rai who's ready to drop a "Book-Bomb" ...Carpet Bombing of the Congress on way!! — Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) August 24, 2014

NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday slammed former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai over his revelations that UPA government put pressure on him to delete names from CAG reports on Coalgate and Commonwealth Games scams, while the BJP asked him to reveal the names of those who tried to influence his reports.Congress questioned the timing of Rai's revelations and accused him of sensationalism."Why didn't the former CAG bring out these facts in public domain while he was in office?" Congress leader Manish Tewari asked."If at all, he was under any pressure or he was being coerced either obliquely, directly, implicitly that certain people be named and others deleted, was it not incumbent upon him to make it public at that point of time," Congress leader Manish Tewari told reporters.Stating that 'sensationalism formed the staple of his tenure', Manish Tewrai renewed his challenge to Vinod Rai to debate the CAG reports at any forum of his choice.He said Rai was perhaps "saving these little nuggets of sensationalism for what is a post-retirement pension plan these days — that you write and create enough sensationalism around it"."...it would be my pleasure to demolish the findings which he had come to in his report so that the nation comes to know conclusively what really was the truth", Manish Tewari said.The BJP, meanwhile, attacked Congress for questioning the integrity of the former CAG."Congress stands completely exposed after Vinod Rai's revelations," BJP said and demanded that the former CAG reveal the names of those who put pressure on him."So after Sanjay Baru & Natwar Singh it's former CAG Vinod Rai who's ready to drop a "Book-Bomb" ... Carpet Bombing of the Congress on way!!", tweeted BJP leader Sambit Patra.Speaking to TOI on Saturday, Vinod Rai made damning disclosure that UPA functionaries deputed politicians to get him to leave out names from the auditor's reports on Coalgate and Commonwealth Games scams."Politicians came to my home and told me not to name some people and to protect some others in connection with the CWG and coal allocation reports," Rai told TOI offering an exclusive peep into his much-awaited recollection of his tumultuous tenure as the federal auditor.Rai, who spoke to TOI on the sidelines of a book launch function, revealed that "Not Just An Accountant", set to be released on September 15, will also provide details of how sheer considerations of survival led the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to acquiesce to decisions which caused huge loss to the exchequer.(With inputs from PTI)