Prove scam charge or quit politics, Jaiswal tells Joshi

Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal Saturday dared BJP candidate Murli Manohar Joshi, who is pitted against him in the Kanpur Lok Sabha constituency, to prove corruption charges against him or quit politics.

Incensed at the attack by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who called Jaiswal a "ghotalebaaz (scamster)", the minister said such irresponsible statements did not behove senior leaders like Joshi.

"If such senior leaders speak in this language, they should back it up with proof or else should quit active politics," Jaiswal told reporters here.

During his maiden visit to the Uttar Pradesh industrial city Friday after being named the candidate, Joshi, who has vacated the Varanasi seat for party's prime ministerial Narendra Modi, had accused Jaiswal of presiding over the multi-crore coal scam.

Joshi meanwhile has also been served a notice for violating the model code of conduct for holding unscheduled roadside meetings.