UPA govt discriminating against non-Cong states: Advani

Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani, who is on an anti-corruption yatra, on Friday fired a fresh salvo at the United Progressive Alliance government claiming that it was following 'discriminatory' policies against non-Congress ruled states.

Flanked by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan, Advani claimed that there were several progressive laws which the state government had passed but were still awaiting the approval from the Centre.

Advani said that the state government had drafted a bill to expedite cases against corrupt officials, another bill on terror which was on the lines of the law already in existence in Maharashtra.

The BJP leader came down hard on the central government saying that it was pursuing a discriminatory policy as none of these progressive measures could become laws because the Centre was holding back its approval.

Advani repeated his charges again in a rally in Jabalpur where he said that when there was the NDA government at the centre, even a communist chief minister had admitted that Opposition ruled states were not discriminated against.

"I dream of making a new India just like Shivraj Singh Chauhan dreams of creating a new Madhya Pradesh," he told the gathered crowd after his yatra reached Jabalpur from Satna.

Advani held several meetings through the day. At a rally in Shahapur, he also met the father of Faggan Singh Kulaste, the jailed former BJP MP in the 'cash for votes' scam.

Advani claimed the three BJP MPs were whistle blowers who had become the target of the government for trying to expose the bribing of parliamentarians.

Alleging that the Congress-led UPA government was neck deep in corruption, L K Advani today said that the day was not far when the government would have to call its Cabinet meeting in Tihar Jail.

"It is really unfortunate for Indian democracy that the UPA ministers, neck deep in corruption, are going to jail. It appears that the sad day is not far when the UPA government would have to convene its Cabinet meeting in Tihar jail," he said addressing supporters during his Jan-Chetna Yatra in Umaria district.

Advani was referring to a series of arrests, including that of former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi, in connection with the 2G and CWG cases.

The BJP leader said the action taken against the leaders was not due to the good intentions of the UPA government, but because of the intervention of the Supreme Court.

He alleged that the Centre was not doing anything on the issue of corruption and black money and was also responsible for the high inflation in the country. If the black money stashed away in foreign banks is brought back, then it can provide for basic facilities in six lakh villages of the country, he added.