NDA targets PM over corruption charges

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) pointed its guns at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a massive anti-corruption rally here on Wednesday, targeting him specifically for refusing to concede to Opposition?s demand for a JPC probe into the 2G scam.

The NDA leaders sounded a bugle of anti-government tirade at the Ram Lila grounds here on the issue of corruption reiterating its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G scam.

Veteran BJP leader and former deputy prime minister LK Advani, warning of more intensified protests, said, ?Our movement will reach villages. This is the beginning of our tirade against the PM.

?He will be the focus of our fight against corruption that will be held nationwide.?

Making a ?final appeal? to Singh to accept the JPC demand, Advani said, ?Please accept the demand and say what you want to say (at the JPC)?

Hinting that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi could be one dictating the government?s firm opposition to JPC, the BJP leader said, ?You (the PM) have the right to accept our demand. No one can stop you.?

?If the prime minister did not agree, 2010 would be remembered as the ‘year of corruption’ and of ‘stinking scams’,? Advani added.

Another BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who is leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Prime Minister should either face a JPC or quit.

?The PM should answer about the appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). He should face the JPC or step down,” said Jaitley.

?If you have no answer to our questions, then step down on moral ground,” he said.

“The government is covering up,” he said, alleging that corporate lobbyists guide Congress.

Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said the government should mention why Congress is against JPC.

“Cite one reason why you are against JPC? You are ready to face PAC (Public Accounts Committe in Parliament) but not JPC, why? Sonia Gandhi or the PM should say at least once why they are against it,” said Swaraj.

?There were JPCs during Bofors scandal and the Harshad Mehta scam, but why not now?” she asked.

“We will hold 12 rallies against the government and corruption. This is only the first,” she said.

Leaders of NDA allies Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena and Akali Dal also attended the rally.