Kushwaha has been brought in as a witness: BJP

Justifying the induction of tainted former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha into the Bharatiya Janata Party, vice-president Vinay Katiyar on Saturday said he was brought in as an approver, like a government witness.

"Like a government witness, Babu Singh Kushwaha has been brought in as a witness," Katiyar told reporters.

Katiyar said that if there were allegations against Kushwaha, he has to reply to them.

"BJP will not help him on this. When he joined, one thing was made clear to him -- that neither would he be given party ticket nor a post and he was being taken in as an ordinary member," he said.

The BJP leader said that if the Central Bureau of Investigation quizzed Kushwaha, he should give the right answers so that the truth comes out.

"Those involved (in NRHM scam) from top to bottom must be exposed," Katiyar said.

Accusing the Congress of creating a ruckus over certain issues ever since Kushwaha joined BJP, he said the party could not see the chinks in its own armour.

"The party should not forget that there is a role of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the Rs 1.76 crore 2G scam, but he has not been removed from the post, because he will land in jail," the BJP vice president said.

He alleged that the Congress failed to act on the allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in connection with the CWG scam.

"Rita Joshi and Digvijay Singh were talking with Kushwaha and he was meeting Rahul Gandhi. But after he joined BJP, their pangs started," he alleged.

Katiyar said that after Kushawaha joined the BJP, the Bahujan Samaj Party released a handout saying that leaders being shown the door by it were being taken in the saffron party.

"A garland worth several crores of rupees was gifted to Mayawati, but it is not visible to CBI, Congress and SP," he alleged.

He said if Congress was honest, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi should announce in Parliament that they won't take support from the BSP and SP whose "leaders were facing disproportionate assets cases".

"If they do not do so, then it means they are cheating the people," Katiyar said.

On BJP leaders themselves raising objections over the induction of Kushwaha, he said it was a democratic party where every person has the right to express his/her views.

He said when Kushwaha joined the BJP, there was no case against him. Katiyar alleged that the CBI did nothing initially and raids were conducted at Kushwaha's place after he joined the BJP.

Katiyar said the BJP would contest UP elections on the issues of corruption, development, law and order and poor condition of farmers.