BJP brings Advani in to attack govt on corruption

Unrelenting on its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today brought its seniormost leader L K Advani in to intensify its attack on the Congress-led government.

Defending the party on the affairs in Karnataka, Advani denied charges that the party was not taking action on corruption in its own backyard.

“I am worried about the developments in Karnataka. But we are dealing with it,” he said, adding that in other corruption cases, too, the party had taken internal measures.

Advani’s comments came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the Congress was the lone party that was acting against corruption. The veteran BJP leader argued that after the tape leaks of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia’s conversations, the issue of the 2G telecom scam had become multi-dimensional. “The 2G spectrum allotment scam involves wide-ranging issues. We need a JPC to look into it. The Public Accounts Committee can’t deal with these leaked tapes,” Advani said.

“Why was it necessary that the telecommunication portfolio was to be allotted only to the DMK? Were corporate interests at play that even within the DMK, it was to be allotted to only to a particular individual to the exclusion of others? Were the telecommunication minister and his close associates in regular touch with corporate lobbyists while formulating the policy for allotment of 2G spectrum?” Advani questioned.

According to the BJP, the autonomy and independence of the CBI has been seriously compromised and the agency has become a convenient instrument in the hands of the government either to whitewash certain investigations or to harass political opponents.

Advani also questioned the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and said the party had no objection to the two other names in the panel for selection of CVC. “But the government insisted on Thomas’ name. The Central Vigilance Commission is the internal vigilance authority of the government. The appointment of its chief has completely demolished the credibility of the CVC as an institution,” he said.