Mr Advani said the allegations against Mr. Gadkari were about "standards of business and not misuse of power or corruption".
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani has lauded Nitin Gadkari for voluntarily seeking a probe into the charges of irregularities in the management and funding of his companies, but kept mum on the demand for his resignation as party president.
As embarrassing details of the sources of funding for, and management of, his companies emerged, Mr. Gadkari, who was in Nagpur on Wednesday to take part in an RSS ‘Vijayadasami Utsav,’ ducked questions from the media on the demand for his resignation. While RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat declined to answer any question, arguing that it was an internal matter of the BJP, the Prachar Pramukh of the organisation, Manmohan Vaidya, dubbed the charges a ‘media trial.’
The Congress has reiterated the demand, made by its general secretary Digvijay Singh, for a probe and has taken potshots at Mr. Advani for backing Mr. Gadkari. Spokesperson Manish Tewari pointed to what he termed “double standards” adopted by BJP leaders, saying they shot from the hip when it came to charges against the Congress.
Mr. Advani’s unusual and carefully worded statement has raised eyebrows as the flurry of charges against Mr. Gadkari is perceived in sections of the top echelons of the BJP as part of the ongoing power struggle. Though at the moment only the unpredictable MP, Ram Jethmalani, has demanded his resignation, some senior leaders concede that Mr. Gadkari has reasons to be concerned.
Mr. Gadkari’s stint as president ends in December, but after the recent amendment to the party constitution that allowed the incumbent a second term, it was taken that Mr. Gadkari would get another term.
However, the turn of events since India Against Corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal levelled charges of impropriety and collusion with the Congress against him has put a question mark over his chances.
And herein lies the significance of Mr. Advani’s ambiguous statement. “Next, on certain media allegations questioning investments in business enterprises, Nitinji has come clean, asking for an inquiry by the Department of Company Affairs. It is a fair and proper response. This shows the difference in the BJP’s attitude. The government has also said it will inquire. I hope that the government inquiry will be fair, and the government will not use its political hostility to the BJP to colour the inquiry. I congratulate Nitinji on his voluntarily asking for an inquiry.”
Noting that the allegations were merely media reports, Mr. Advani saw them as a Congress strategy to target the entire political class in a bid to cover up the “unprecedented charges of monumental corruption” against it.
The allegations against Mr. Gadkari were about “standards of business and not misuse of power or corruption,” he said, even while maintaining that the BJP “should be different and should not claim immunity on either scale or nature of the allegations.”
Keywords: Arvind Kejriwal, Nitin Gadkari, IAC, Maharashtra irrigation scam, BJP, RSS appeal
The political leadership in our country has chosen politics as their way of life.They do not bothered about the well being of their countrymen.They loot in every project meant to uplift the poor.In other words schemes are formulated just to fatten them. Our country is a poor country where 35% are below the poverty line.If our political leadership is so concerned about it they would not have indulged in corrupt ways.
Shocking and surprising defence by Mr.Advani for Mr.Gadkari.The way party leaders come out for defence as was done by congress for Mr.Wadra it confirms that there is no difference between the two of them.Why can not they shut their mouth and let the law take its own course.
L.K. Advani has once again disappointed. Gadkari has to go; there no two ways about it. Advani's poor and unconvincing justification is shocking and reflects the unsatifsfactory state of affairs in the BJP. The elevation of Gadkari to the post of the Party President, by superceding many senior leaders, was a bad decision. Mohan Bhagawat, the RSS Chief had made a bad choice. Accept your mistake and ask Gadkari to resign forthwith.
Totally disappointing. How a leader like Advani trying to cover BJP party president Nitin Gadkari. I think so Nitin gadkari is elevated in national politics but still needs to do home work in manner in which one cover up its corrupt deeds. Why a party president is having so much hugh business interest which cuts across industries. If gadkari stays than that would translate that BJP is also or even more corrupt than congress. Who says india is democratic? Actually it is worst than autocratic.
Are the allegations of money laundering and benami transactions conducted
to cloak the sources of income considered merely the breach of business
standards? Advani is joking and insulting the intelligence of the people.
Seems to be the start of a new group emerging within the BJP. While the RSS may side with Modi, the anti-Modi faction will align behind Gadkari. The Congress must be rubbing its hands in glee.
Hope no one forgets that we have a monster called corruption hiding somewhere in the background who still needs to be hunted and eradicated.
As is his wont BJP patriarch, L K Advani has jumped the gun and has given a clean chit to his party president Nitin Gadkari simply because the latter has welcomed a probe into the allegations against him. The same thing happened when the Congress jumped to the defence of the country's damaad Robert Vadra. So Advani's clean chit only means that the BJP is no party with a difference and is not averse to supporting its shady leaders who come under a cloud.
Oh, The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
The trousers were neither up nor down.
Advani being a tall leader of BJP , should have advised Nitin kadhari to resign from the pressident post and come back after his name is cleared. Advani himself has set the example by resigning when his name was found in Jain hawal Diary. This is an opportunity for BJP to prove that it is different . In addition BJP is not short of leaders for taking the mantle of president of the party.
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