Sudhanshu Mittal helps Congress target BJP on Games corruption

NEW DELHI: Congress got an opportunity to link BJP president Nitin Gadkari to Commonwealth Games corruption after the income-tax department conducted surveys on BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal’s properties.

Congress accused the BJP president of diverting attention by holding a press conferences when his party leaders were allegedly involved in Commonwealth Games graft.

Reacting to BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s press conference on Tuesday, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “The demeanor of the BJP president is that of a spoilt child who is prepared to go to any extent to focus attention on himself... BJP president might be feeling threatened as a number of BJP leaders are coming within the ambit of investigation. He might be scared that the investigation might reach him also.”

Mr Tewari refuted all suggestions of the investigating agencies targetting BJP leaders and said, “I can turn this argument around and say that because BJP leaders were found involved the BJP president held a press conference as a diversionary tactic.” When reporters pointed out that raids were conducted after the press conference was slated, Mr Tewari shot back, “somebody must have told the BJP president in advance. You know these operations are planned a few days in advance.”

On the demand for a joint parliamentary committee the party said that the decision is for the Union government to take. “All allegations regarding misutilisation of funds would be looked into. The guilty will be brought to book,” assured Mr Tewari adding that the prime minister had done whatever was possible by appointing an inquiry committee under former Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Congress seemed relieved with the focus shifting from its sparring leaders to the Opposition. The party, however, once again warned leaders and asked them to act with restraint.

“We would like to reiterate and underscore once again that it is incumbent on everyone to say whatever they have to before the inquiry committee,” said Mr Tewari.