Charge of business links between Radia & leaders baseless: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today termed as "baseless" allegations that some of its senior leaders had business relations with controversial corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and said it was initiating legal action against those who levelled the charges.

"A particular news organisation has made some serious allegations against some of our senior leaders and Congress party feels these allegations have come to its rescue. We find this is a completely unethical piece of journalism which invites a strong reaction and strong action," Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

Rao Dheeraj Singh, who BJP alleged "curiously happens to be very closely related to a very senior Congress politician", has made certain allegations against senior party leader L K Advani, party president Nitin Gadkari and general secretary Ananth Kumar.

Jaitley refuted the four allegations made against the BJP leaders.

"He has alleged that the NDA government alloted land to a Trust controlled by this lady (Radia). NDA government has never has alloted any land to a Trust controlled by her," Jaitley said.

He denied Advani had attended a function of that Trust. "He has never attended any programme of any Trust controlled by this lady. The only function that Advani has attended in 2002 in Vasant Kunj is of a religious organisation of Pejavar Swamy who is a well known Hindu saint. The saint has himself clarified the land was alloted to him by the United Front government," Jaitley said.

BJP also denied that the allegation that "some helicopters were purchased in 2002 where Radia's business has been promoted."

"Karnataka never had a BJP or NDA government at that time when the reference has come. Our party president's name has been brought in. He was not even aware of the existence of this lady till a few weeks ago. This name was unknown to him, he has clarified that.

"During the period being referred to, Gadkari was the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council (of Maharashtra)," Jaitley said.

The eminent lawyer said Kumar has been advised by the party to "immediately take action against the maker of this allegation" and the news channel involved.