BJP youth activists protest at Rahul Gandhi's residence

NEW DELHI: Scores of BJP youth wing activists today staged a protest outside Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's residence demanding an explanation from him on charges of corruption against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Led by BJYM national president Anurag Thakur, the demonstrators, who reached Gandhi's Tughlaq Lane residence this afternoon, also demanded Singh's resignation.

Police resorted to mild force and water canons as the demonstrators tried to cross over the barricades set up by them.

As they refused to relent, policemen wielding sticks chased the protesters to some distance to disperse them. Several of the protesters were then detained and taken to the nearby Tughlaq Road police station.

BJP yesterday alleged that the Himachal Chief Minister took "bribe" from a private power firm for granting it extension for a project and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi what action would be taken against him.

Demanding a CBI probe and calling it a "test" for Rahul after his "anger" over the Adarsh issue, BJP leader Arun Jaitley alleged at a press conference that Virbhadra Singh accepted money to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 2.4 crore through cheques in his name and that of his MP wife Pratibha Singh.

Singh has dubbed the allegations of corruption made against him as "false and highly defamatory" and said he was ready to face any enquiry ordered by the Prime Minster.

The Congress while dismissing the allegations dared BJP to go to courts or appropriate investigative agencies if it had any proof.