By IANS,
New Delhi: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained defensive on the induction of tainted former minister in Uttar Pradesh Babu Singh Kushwaha, the Congress Thursday continued its attack, questioning its credentials to head an anti-corruption campaign.
Congress leader and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, V. Narayanasamy, hit out at the BJP, questioning the anti-corruption campaign led by party veteran L.K. Advani.
“The BJP has been telling that they are for anti-corruption initiative, Advani was going for ‘rath yatra’ to curb corruption… and their party is taking corrupt people with them,” Narayanasamy said.
“This makes it clear that they preach sermons to others, it does not apply to them.”
A former minister in the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party government, Kushwaha joined the BJP Tuesday after he was thrown out by Mayawati on corruption charges.
Allegedly involved in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in the state, he has been named in an FIR on the scam by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Raids were also conducted on his premises at several places.
BJP leaders, meanwhile, evaded replying questions on the issue.
Party leader Arun Jaitley refused to answer any questions when asked about Kushwaha as he came out after meeting President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on the Lokpal bill.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi questioned Team Anna’s silence on the issue.
“Why is Team Anna silent on Babu Singh issue,” he asked, adding: “While they were saying they will campaign against Congress, they have not uttered a single word on BJP.”
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh also took a dig, saying the BJP was like the Ganga, and there was no need for a Janlokpal bill as corrupt people could be purified by sending them to the party.
“If BJP is like Ganga, what is the need for Janlokpal. Send all corrupt people to BJP,” he said.
Divisions have emerged in the opposition party after Kushwaha’s induction, with several national leaders as well as the party’s leaders from Uttar Pradesh expressing displeasure over his inclusion in the party.