Nitin Gadkari defensive at BJP protest against corruption

Facing charges of dubious funding of his companies and demands from within for resigning from his post, BJP President Nitin Gadkari claimed he was clean and said he did not fear facing any probe as he has not done any wrong.

"There is an attempt to defame us. We are clean. There is no need to fear and we are ready to face any probe. I want to assure you that we have not done anything wrong," Gadkari said addressing a BJP protest rally at Jantar Mantar here on the issues of corruption, price rise and FDI.

The BJP protest rally was organised by its Delhi unit and attended by senior party leaders including Rajnath Singh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Vijay Goel and Vijender Gupta. After the rally, leaders led by Rajnath Singh marched towards the Prime minister's residence and courted arrest at Parliament Street police station. Gadkari did not court arrest.

Attacking the Congress-led UPA government, Gadkari charged the Congress with misusing the CBI by threatening anyone who spoke against it or exposed its "wrongdoings and corruption".

"There is loot in this country. BJP has been exposing this government's corruption and scams. That is why there is an attempt to defame us," he alleged.

"Congress is misusing the CBI against Mayawati (of Bahujan Samaj Party), Mulayam (of Samajwadi Party), Shibu Soren (of JMM), DMK's ministers and NCP and other allies by threatening them with CBI files and cases. False allegations have also been levelled against the BJP. The Congress says if you speak against us, we will destroy you. Whosoever wants to probe, can probe. We are not scared," Gadkari said.

On Kasab's hanging, Gadkari said it had been delayed and asked why Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru had not been sent to the gallows.

"Kasab has been hanged. But it has taken a lot of time. I want to ask the UPA government why Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru has not been hanged even 10 years after the incident.... Will this government implement the Supreme Court verdict on Afzal Guru. This government should clarify," the BJP chief said.

Gadkari accused Congress of doing votebank politics and asked why the government was not executing Guru even after the Supreme Court verdict.

"Congress party is promoting terrorism. It is not ready to executive Afzal Guru due to votebank politics. It fears losing votes if Guru is hanged," he alleged and asked "Can such a government save the people from terrorism?"

The BJP chief said the Congress government was on its way out, but was surviving with the help of CBI, through which it threatened its allies, and said BJP-led NDA was the only alternative to the UPA.

"This government is in intensive-care unit and can go any time. There is no future of this government as its alliance partners are unhappy. Nobody today listens to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The CBI Director is the strength of this government. If this government is there, it is because of CBI and its blackmail. Whenever the opposition tries to bring no- confidence motion, government misuses CBI," he said.

Former BJP President Rajnath Singh accused the government of playing into foreign hands and said it has violated Parliamentary traditions by breaking its promise on FDI.

"They have played with Parliamentary traditions by breaking their promise on FDI made in Parliament.... They are playing into the hands of foreign players," he said.

Rajnath Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi should answer why the country had not progressed and become a superpower even after so many years of independence that included over 50 years of Congress regime, while many smaller nations which got independence much later have emerged stronger.

He said while prices of everything had been raised during the Congress regime, the value of human life had reduced.

Charging Congress with being responsible for poverty and unemployment, he told people that it was not their fate but the Congress' which which was responsible for their plight.

"They are laying red carpets for foreign companies like Walmart. Whereever Walmart has gone, it has turned farmers bankrupt.... They talk of generating 40 lakh jobs through FDI in retail, but they will take away the livelihood of 5 crore people," Singh said.

The former UP Chief Minister said BJP will demand a discussion on FDI issue in Parliament which entails voting and warned farmers of the repercussions of allowing such investment in multi brand retail.

Earlier, Gadkari warned the public that foreign companies will pay well in the first two-three years, but will exploit farmers and traders later.

Pointing to the rising commodity prices, the BJP chief said "the number of unemployed has gone up and farmers are committing suicide.... Poverty is rising because of wrong economic policies and bad and corrupt governance by the Congress that has ruled for over 50 years."

Gadkari also demanded an answer from the Congress on allegations of corruption being probed by Walmart. "Congress should reply which minister or party has sought bribe from Walmart. It should clarify before the nation," he said.

While party members carried placards and banners demanding probes against Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra for alleged corruption, the BJP leaders also asked why "no action was being initiated against them".

The BJP's nationwide protest against the UPA government comes a day before the winter session of Parliament beginning tomorrow.