Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni today suggested that suspended Congress leader Natwar Singh should retire from politics. In the wake of the controversy surrounding Natwar Singh’s suspension and his remarks about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Soni said: ‘‘He (Natwar) has always said politicians must retire after 70 and got applause for saying it. He must heed to his own advice now.’’

At, Idea Exchange, a free-wheeling interaction with journalists at The Indian Express today, Soni said Natwar’s remarks on the Prime Minister and the cabinet—that it has “murderers and rapists”—was “defamatory to the entire cabinet.”

The senior Congress leader also rubbished Natwar Singh’s claim (see The Op-ed Page) that the formation of the Manmohan Singh cabinet in May 2004 was delayed because the Americans were putting pressure to stop his becoming foreign minister. “That Mr Natwar SIngh would become the foreign minister was a foregone conclusion. There was no delay in the ministry formation on that account. He was a minister of state for external affairs and was heading the party’s external affairs cell,” Soni said. “How can another country put pressure on ministry formation in India?”

Soni said the three letters that Natwar Singh had written to the Iraqi authorities recommending business was ‘‘improper’’. She said Natwar Singh had been inconsistent ever since the controversy began. ‘‘He is saying one thing one day and another thing the next.’’

The Congress leader said the party’s position had been vindicated by the Pathak report. ‘‘From day one, the party has said it is not involved and the Pathak inquiry has proved it.’’