Advani announces yatra against corruption

New Delhi, Sep 8 (PTI) BJP leader L K Advani on Thursday
made a surprise announcement of undertaking a yatra across the
country against the menace of corruption, a move seen as an
attempt by him to get a grip over the party.
"I have decided to take out a yatra against corruption.
The name of the yatra, its timing, point of origin and other
details will be worked out with the party. Its focus will be
on good governance and clean politics," the 83-year-old leader
told reporters.
The decision of the quintessential rathyatri is likely
to queer the pitch for some of the Gen-Next leaders who have
been eyeing the highest position in the BJP hierarchy.
Asked if this would settle the leadership issue within
BJP and if he would be the party's prime ministerial candidate
in the next general elections, he evaded a reply.
BJP President Nitin Gadkari had recently said the party
will not declare its Prime Ministerial candidate in the next
Lok Sabha elections and the decision would be taken after the
polls.
"The party has not declared its Prime Ministerial
candidate before all the elections. Our party president has a
right to say so," Advani said in response to a question.
Advani, whose 1990 rathyatra for building a Ram temple
at the disputed site in Ayodhya changed the BJP's electoral
fortunes, said he would complete this yatra against corruption
before the Winter Session begins in November this year.
He later told reporters that the idea of taking out a
rathyatra first came to his mind after the last winter session
of Parliament was washed out over the opposition demand
for a joint parliamentary committee to probe the 2G spectrum
scam.
"It is unfortunate that Advaniji, who today, for the first
time in his life had sought suspension of the Question Hour,
was not allowed to speak," Swaraj said, asking, "Has the
Question Hour never been suspended earlier on the request of
any other political leader?"
Swaraj said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad had also given
a similar notice in the Rajya Sabha, but it too was declined.
She alleged that the UPA government was saved through "sin
and dishonesty. Those who spoke the truth are in the jail,
while those who spoke lies are enjoying.
"The entire NDA has now come out and stands before the
statue of Mahatma Gandhi to lodge its protest against this
injustice."
Reacting to the NDA protest, Congress MP Jagdambika Pal
said Parliament ran on certain rules and regulations and no
one can over-rule them.
Pal also lamented that the BJP had tried to stall the
proceedings of Parliament on one pretext or other and termed
it as "an attack on the democratic values of this House".
He said a Parliament Committee has already given its
report on the cash-for-vote Ssam and questioned that under
what rules could Advani speak on the matter, especially when
the matter was pending before the court.
"The Government cannot speak on the matter when it is
sub-judice," he said, adding, "The Question Hour is also an
important aspect and members have the right to put the
Government in the dock". PTI SKC
RCJ