BJP's 3-day anti-corruption stir from Thursday

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday criticised Home Minister P Chidambaram for alleging that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha was behind Ramdev's agitation and announced a three-day anti-corruption campaign starting on Thursday.

"Anybody who speaks against corruption is linked to BJP or RSS by him (Chidambaram). Even if somebody in his office talks about corruption, then he will smell RSS and BJP there also," BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He said Chidambaram was not giving "measured comments" since his name has allegedly cropped up in the 2G spectrum scam.

Asked about party chief Nitin Gadkari's comment to a TV channel that he has evidence against Chidambaram for his alleged involvement in 2G spectrum scam, Hussain said "Gadkari has raised the issue..We will take it forward."

He said a nationwide campaign against corruption and the government's crackdown on Ramdev during which senior party leaders will address meetings and rallies in state capitals and prominent towns from Thursday till Saturday.

"We will continue our protest against the kind of un-announced emergency that we saw on Saturday night," he said.

Expressing concern over Ramdev's deteriorating health, Hussain accused the government leaders of issuing staments in "authoritarian tone".

"Government must address the issues raised by the civil society. The BJP will continue its fight against corruption," he said describing Ramdev as a "saint" who has taken up cudgels of addressing the menace of corruption and black money.

Queried how BJP will fight corruption when its government in Karnataka was facing serious graft charges, he said all BJP governments, including the BS Yeddyurappa dispensation, was fighting against the menace.

Asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's direction to his ministers to declare their assets, the BJP spokesman termed it as a "delayed move".

"It is a delayed move..the Prime Minister asked the ministers not have any links with private companies. The Prime Minister has all the information about which minister has link with which company. He has the biggest agency to monitor it," Hussain said.

On Sushma Swaraj's going to Haridwar to meet Ramdev, Hussain said she has gone there in her capacity as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

"The Prime Minister is sleeping. The government is not listening to Ramdev. That is why Sushmaji felt it was her responsibility as leader of opposition to meet Ramdev. She has gone their in her capacity as LOP," he said.