Patna: Alleging that Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh has "completely lost" credibility after
multiple scams rocked his government "right under his nose",
BJP today asked him to take moral responsibility for the
corruption charges against his Cabinet colleagues.
"PM has completely lost credibility after the scams
broke out right under his nose in the past two years and he
should take moral responsibility for corruption charges
against his cabinet colleagues," BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap
Rudy said.
Rudy, however, evaded a question as to whether his
party favoured resignation of the prime minister and Union
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
"We had levelled corruption charges against PM earlier
also after his senior cabinet colleagues were sent to jail
following corruption charges," he said.
Pointing out that the scams have tarnished the image
of the Centre, he said Pawar`s role in the (telecom) scam was
also being discussed in the wake of Niira Radia`s revelations
to the CBI.
He also alleged that the prime minister was a "total
failure" in checking corruption and price rise.
"Deliberate attempts are being made to cover up the 2G
spectrum allocation scam and to save the skin of the people at
the top," he alleged and claimed that Radia`s disclosures were
hearsay as there is no substantive evidence in support of her
charge.
"This can possibly result in the main accused going
scot-free."
The BJP had, right since beginning, been vociferous in
raising the issues related to corruption in 2G Spectrum
allocation, Adarsh Housing allotment scam, appointment of the
Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Commonwealth Games, he said.
"The people at the top have always tried to cover up,
rather ignore and overlook our stand," he said, adding it was
because of the intervention of the Supreme Court that some
action had followed against corrupt public servants.
"We stand solidly behind social activist Anna Hazare
about his stand against corruption. Now we are waiting for the
draft of the effective Lokpal bill with a bated breath to
tackle corruption."
Referring to criticism of Hazare for praising the
governments of Bihar and Gujarat for delivering good to the
people, the BJP Rajya Sabha member said it was unfortunate.
Be it be the 2004 elections or the general elections
in 2009, BJP had strongly raised the issue related to bringing
back black money stashed in banks abroad, he noted.
On whether India should accept invitation for cricket
match in Pakistan, Rudy said the `game should not be mixed
with diplomacy or terror`.
To another question, Rudy said his party had always
been averse to India signing nuclear deals with the US.
"What has happened in Japan recently is known to
everybody now."
PTI
