Corruption will be wiped out if BJP returns to power: Advani

Branding UPA government as the most corrupt and inefficient since independence, BJP leader LK Advani today asserted that corruption would be wiped out and black money stashed abroad retrieved if his party wrested power at the Centre.

"I have seen all governments from (Jawaharlal) Nehru to (Atal Behari) Vajpayee since independence, first as a journalist and then as a member of Parliament. But this is the most corrupt and inefficient government," Advani told a public meeting here after his 'Jan Chetna yatra' entered Orissa.

Stressing that Singh was the weakest prime minister the country had seen, Advani said, "Manmohan is nominal. Sonia (Gandhi) takes decisions. Manmohan writes, Sonia decides and the result is that one scam after another cropped up and the prime minister watched as a mute spectator."

The former deputy prime minister said India's image abroad was being tarnished due to rampant corruption during the Congress-led UPA rule. If BJP comes to power, it would wipe out corruption and bring back huge black money stashed abroad, he said.

After the UPA government was reduced to a minority in 2008 following withdrawal of support by the Left parties, it had "hatched a conspiracy to win over Opposition MPs", he said adding their conspiracy was thwarted by the party which had succeeded in exposing their design before Parliament.

"Unfortunately, those who had exposed the conspiracy were put behind bars," Advani said.

In countries like the USA, Canada and New Zealand, there is a law to provide protection to whistle blowers. Such a bill had been drafted in our country but it is yet to be passed by Parliament, he said.

Alleging that the USA administration was perturbed when the UPA government came to minority, Advani claimed a senior official of the US embassy was asked to assure Washington that there was no threat to the government.

"It was stated that UPA had enough money to win over the Opposition MPs and the government will not be allowed to fall," Advani alleged.

Maintaining that his 40-day yatra was aimed at creating awareness among the people about large scale corruption taking place in the country, the BJP leader said the need to wipe out corruption must be highlighted.

Drawing a comparison between UPA rule and the erstwhile NDA government led by BJP, Advani said the country saw the best government during the latter's rule. It was the most honest government which provided good governance and clean administration, he said.

The BJP stalwart also accused the UPA government of discriminating against states ruled by non-Congress parties in maintenance of roads.

During his Jan Chetna Yatra from Chattishgarh, Advani said it came to his notice that the condition of roads, whether state highways or national highways, was not good.

"If it happened to be a state not ruled by Congress or its allies, the Centre does not even maintain the national highways," he alleged.

Criticising the UPA government for spiralling price of essential commodities and high inflation, the former deputy prime minister claimed the NDA government had kept prices under control all through the six years it ruled.

"We had promised good governance to the people and we showed it once. If given opportunity, we will again provide good government", he said.

Advani said the differences could be felt in the country if any one visits BJP-ruled states and a state ruled by a UPA constituent. "Go to Chattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh and see the developmental works being undertaken there," he said.