Advani takes dig at Gadkari, says BJP men must be above corruption

With allegations flying thick and fast against its own leaders including party President, senior BJP leader L K Advani today on Friday made some "plain speaking" saying that its own rank and file should be above board on corruption issues.

He also told the party leadership at all levels that they must speak in one voice and avoid the tendency to speak in multiple voices.

"When we criticise the Congress on graft and there is even a whiff of corruption in our party there is so much noise... we should expect the same firm treatment to our own people," the BJP veteran said addressing the valedictory session of the National Council meeting here.

Advani's forthright comments asking the leaders to be above board come at a time when allegations have been made by an RTI activist that attempts have been made BJP President Nitin Gadkari to hush up the irrigation scam in Maharashtra.

He has strongly denied the charges and issued a legal notice to activist Anjali Damania seeking an apology from her.

There have also been allegations that Gadkari's associate and party MP Ajay Sancheti had benefited from coal block allocations in Chhattisgarh and the irrigation scam, which he has denied.

"Our USP (Unique Selling Proportion) has been that we are honest, patriots and disciplined. If there is any shortcoming on these aspects people criticize us.

"The BJP leadership at all levels must speak in one voice. We must ruthlessly put down the tendency to speak in multiple voices," Advani said.

He emphasised that BJP is known as a party committed to probity in politics and governance and there should be no compromise on this issue.

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