Tamil Nadu has become the centre of corruption thanks to the 2G spectrum allocation scandal, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Sushma Swaraj, said here on Monday.
Addressing a press conference to wind up her five-day election tour of the State, which she undertook in two phases, Ms. Swaraj said price rise and corruption were the key issues in the elections. While people had to face intolerable price rise, they could see the politicians amassing huge wealth through corrupt means and enjoying a luxurious life.
She appealed to the electorate not to sell their “conscience” for the sake of freebies. “Both these parties (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) have been duping people (by offering freebies). Wipe out the corrupt,” she said.
At the same time, she exhorted the Election Commission, which was already doing a commendable job in seizing money (meant for distribution for votes) “to be more vigilant as it is during the last two days before elections that corrupt activities (money distribution) normally increase.”
To a question, Ms, Swaraj said that she was for confiscation of the ill-gotten assets of the corrupt and this should be enshrined in the Lokpal Bill, which was yet to be drafted.
Helpless Prime Minister
To a query on the functioning of the Prime Minister, she said: “Manmohan Singh has become helpless. Anything that you ask him, he wants us to ask somebody else. For instance, you ask him about price rise, he says ask Sharad Pawar (Union Agriculture Minister). Ask about telecom issue and he wants us to ask Raja (former Telecom Minister). Ask about Common Wealth Games scandal, he says ask Suresh Kalmadi (chairman of the games organising committee).”
