The former BJP president, Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday lashed out at the Congress, the media and Income Tax officials “for defaming an honest karyakarta [party worker].”
“The Congress party and the UPA government planned a conspiracy to defame me by making false propaganda against me. But now I will expose the corruption of all Congress leaders. Until now, as president of the BJP, I had some limitations, but now I am a free man. And I dare the Congress to say and do all that you want against me.”
Mr. Gadkari was given a grand welcome by BJP workers at the Nagpur airport on his arrival after resigning from presidentship of the saffron party.
Addressing hundreds of supporters near the airport, Mr. Gadkari said: “Until now the Congress party has misused the CBI. They [Congress leaders] used it [the CBI] as a tool. Now they are using the Income Tax department. Night and day, IT officials are working overtime on these cases [related to the Purti group]. I know which officers are involved in this and what they are doing and how they are implicating me. Some officers who sympathise with the BJP and me have told me what kind of conspiracy is being planned. They [IT officers inquiring about the Purti group] should remember that the Congress party is like a sinking boat and it will go soon. When our party comes to power, there will be no Chidambaram or Sonia Gandhi to save you [IT people].”
Questioning the timing of IT raids on the companies in Mumbai, he said: “Deliberately a day before I was going to submit the form for the [party] election, some offices of companies in Mumbai were searched. It was not a raid but a simple search and not a single document was confiscated. But the media was invited. Inquiry was done, but deliberately I was given a summons, they came to my house and asked me to sign on it. I was asked why I mortgaged my house in Mumbai and helped Purti financially. I told them that this was true and that I helped Purti when it was in trouble. I have publicly given an affidavit about my property of Rs.13 crore but one Congress leader alleged that I own property worth Rs.1,000 crore. I challenge him if he can show Rs. 987 crore; I will donate it to him.”
“There was an attempt to defame me and the party [the BJP] by making false allegations and when all this started the day before yesterday [Tuesday], I considered it better to resign,” said Mr. Gadkari.
“Fake news”
“I would like to convey this to the media that ours is a democratic country and if we [politicians] commit mistakes, you have full right to run it as the breaking news. But the Indian Constitution has not given you the right to destroy the careers of honest workers and politicians. Some people from the media, by running fake news, played an important role in this [political conspiracy] ... kyomki unki dukan hai [they have their business]. But I have kept ready a record of all this.”
He said the Congress and the UPA government were practising vindictive politics. “They blackmail Mulayam Singh and Mayawati by showing a CBI file. They have sent [Om Prakash] Chautala to jail by implicating him. When our government was in power, we did not resort to this kind of politics against Congress leaders. But the truth will come out in open very soon,” said Mr. Gadkari.
Keywords: Nitin Gadkari, Income Tax authorities, BJP president election, Gadkari candidature, Puti Group, Rajnath Singh
Whether someone high in the government or the party in power
instigates such action against political opponents will remain in the
realm of conjecture. However, it is certainly true that some
bureaucrats do have a perception that it will please someone up there
if action is taken against such opponents. A lot of evil attributed to
Sanjay Gandhi during the Emergency was not directed by him or even
done with his knowledge. Nevertheless, senior Government officers vied
with one another to commit serious irregularities that they perceived
would please him. The instance of Amitabh Bachan denied invitation to
the Film Festival in Goa is well known. On the eve of elections, some
senior officers do take care to build bridges with the opposition
leaders whom they treated with contempt till the other day. Excessive
zeal in duty is not always dictated by needs but by a false sense
that this will please someone. Gadkari may not be far wrong.
Google about Gadkari.
Guru Murthy has audited the accounts of Purti & Gadkari & given him a clean chit. Media news rooms are not courts to deceide a case. Gadkari is saying that he is open to any enquiry. If the IT officials are honest guys no body can touch them. If they are corrupt they would face the music.
vadra or sonia never said that they are always ready for probe
Amazing dilemma for TH,even when it brings an issue like this,it is considered a critic of BJP for it has written and written against the party for so long that it is no longer taken seriously.As for Gadkari not only him but all like him should be expelled from their respective parties.
UPA government did a favour to BJP by scuttling Gadkaris chances for a second innings as the President of BJP. Either he is immature or have lost his marbles to threaten Government Officers with consequences for doing their duty. Further he has proven that officers sympathetic to BJP are leaking information.
He should lie low till the next election lest his threats do not become a mill stone around his neck.
Mr Nitin Gadkari can be faulted for his remarks.But people rightly
believe that govt officials willingly abdicate their responsibility and
act in favour of the ruling party.Are there not instances where the
inconvenient persons are tamed/silenced/won over through raids?Have we
ever seen any raid against corrupt ministers of the party in power at
the centre?Are not the govt officials aware of the massive frauds
routinely taking place?Why do they shut their eyes?Is it wrong to say
that many officials can be punished if their working is investigated?
There is unholy alliance between the corrupt officials and corrupt
ministers.Such officials should be punished and their ill gotten wealth
confiscated.The big question is who will do it.
If a person of national stature give this kind of statement publicly one can easily think
the real lust behind the power. This is highly shameful for national president of a
recognised party for threatening the civil servants for dire consequences. This kind of
act must be condemned from all corners of the society.
There seems to be something wrong in this news. Now a days a lot of allegations are being levelled in electronic and print media against Mr. Gadkari about the so called Purti group case. This propaganda appears to be 100% false. Income-tax Act and companies Act were passed by Parliament. These two Acts permit to float "shell companies". Every industrial house has got 200 to 2000 shell companies where directors are maid servants,drivers, low paid employees, chowkidars etc. etc. Directors are mostly arranged by the accountant. They come in the month of April to sign balance sheets. In most of the cases directors of a company do not know one another and even the names. They also do not know the business of the company, its turnover, bankers, major sundry debtors or creditors. But this is all allowed under both the Acts. There is one more problem - it is difficult to ascertain who is invisible owner of such companies. A girl friend of the invisible is also made as chairman.
There are smaller facts in his speech. Only thing his statements are not intelligent
enough to convey the message.Just a plain which anybody can trap him.
What obvious is happening is congress driven Govt officials act. At other side,
Robert Vadora is given clean chit by govt officials without investigation.
All these happens because of political reasons. The sad part is BJP is no different
and not that corrupted like Congress.
Our politicians exchane these kind of personal attack publically to threaten the the people who really work no matter whose party forms the government.
I think time has come to review the political system in India with respect to how to ensure people of true intent come to join politics for the growth of our country and not blaming each other for lack of development but to come up with solutions to address the issues.
A screeing is need for anyone entering the politics e.g same as individuals who go through such screeing before joining Gov Instutions who really runs the government.
To Lehar Sen: Can you elobrate how the TH has discredited the BJP in this analysis? The TH are stating the facts and commenting how politicians abuse their office to threaten the working of the state. Are you contesting the facts as seen on the TV channels ? Then do so. But if you are opposing alternative views and analysis because they don't subscribe to yours, then you are advocating fascism. WE the people have the right to criticize our politicians. Don't confuse the people and Yes, the People are watching.
and after you are thrown out you will loose all your dignity! Did you
mean it!
This is what happens when you don't pursue the legal cases to their logical conclusion and lock up the offenders -- our nation is too happy and satisfied if an accused policeman, teacher or politician is just suspended from service. Nobody has probably gone to this extreme in directly threatening the IT/other Govt officers from doing their duty. Gadkari's strategy is simple -- first say that he has done nothing wrong and that he is open to any probe and then threaten the officers when there is indeed any probe. If Gadkari could openly say these words, imagine what sort of pressure the Govt officers could be subjected to, off-camera.
It is sad that a newspaper like TH has taken upon itself to discredit the BJP as much as possible, whether in its analyses, columns, titles, reports, but the people of India are watching.
This marks the true face of a man and his urge to power to seek vengence. Irrespective of political parties, do we really require leaders with this kind of mindset? Are these the people who are going to take India forward? They truly and wholeheartedly lack vision, courage and will to change India into a truly wonderful self sustaining nation. Pity that we still have people in the country who fall for such maniac speeches.
What a brazen statement by a leader of a national party. Threatening public servants amounts to preventing them performing their duties. Gadkari should be booked for this manner and taught a lesson.
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