After bandh, BJP now gives call for jail bharo

Stepping up its attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced a nationwide agitation on the twin issues of price rise and corruption.

The party's 'Jan Sangharsh' agitation will start on June 7 and end with 'jail bharo' stir on June 22, party Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

"During the period, we will organise rallies and padyatras against the government at district and tehsil levels and end the protest with a jail bharo," he said in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"All national and state leaders, MPs, MLAs, office- bearers of the BJP will participate in the Jan Sangharsh and court arrest on June 22," Naqvi said.

Addressing a press conference, the BJP leader said the country was passing through difficult times because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was leading a "corrupt" government and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was their "protector". "They are encouraging corruption under the garb of honesty."

Naqvi charged that in the eight years of the UPA administration, scams and corruption have broken all records.

"The import of crude oil is about 85 per cent of the present requirement. However, during the NDA regime, it was 65 to 70 per cent because we focused on alternate sources like piped gas, bio-diesel and ethanol. Later there was zero progress on this matter. The UPA government is helping oil mafia and those responsible for rise in prices of essential commodities."

Naqvi said instead of attacking the main Opposition party, the Congress, heading the ruling coalition, will serve the country well by fighting corruption and price rise.

"Our agitation will continue till this insensitive government wakes up and takes note of hardships being faced by the people," the BJP leader said.