Nitish to flag off Advani's 'rath yatra'

Putting at rest speculation over his participation in senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani's 'rath yatra' in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced he would flag off the event from Sitab Diara in Saran district on October 11 to mark birth anniversary of Jay Prakash Narayan.

Hinting at the controversy surrounding Home Minister P Chidambaram in 2G spectrum row, Kumar urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clarify his position before the people.

"I will go to Sitab Diara, the birth place of late Jay Prakash Narayan and flag off Advaniji's yatra against corruption on October 11," Kumar told mediapersons.

He said BJP president Nitin Gadkari had contacted him over phone three days ago and he accepted Gadkari's request to flag-off the yatra.

"It is a matter of happiness that Advani is embarking on the yatra from the village of Lok Nayak Jay Prakash against corruption. I also welcome Advani," the chief minister said.

To a question on 2G controversy and Chidambaram, the chief minister said the Prime Minister should clarify his position before the people of India.

"There is an air of confusion among the people of the country about what were the notes sent to the Prime Minister from the Union Finance Ministry," he said.

Kumar said what had happened during UPA-II was "slowly being uncovered" with the "details of several agreements coming up day after day."

On Bihar, Kumar claimed properties of corrupt public servants were being confiscated and schools opened after taking legal action under Bihar Special Court Act.