Don't tolerate corruption, Advani tells BJP

By Indo Asian News Service

New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani Sunday urged party president Rajnath Singh to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy against corruption and called upon party workers to ensure success in the upcoming elections.

"On the issue of corruption, the party must adopt very strict norms," Advani said in his concluding remarks at BJP's national council meet.

The BJP veteran said there was a mood in the country against corruption, which was proved by the support to Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement.

He, however, said that the party "failed to read and respond adequately to the mood".

Advani said that while the party has attacked the government strongly on these issues, the response "outside" has disappointed their supporters.

"In the two houses of parliament, the party attacked government strongly on these issues. But our overall response outside was a disappointment for even our own supporters," he said.

He cited the party's handling of the issue of former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's alleged involvement in the mining scam.

"Without mincing words, let me admit that our wavering and unprincipled handling of the situation in Karnataka caused great damage to our image. We forgot that the people judge the commitment of any political party to fight corruption not by its pronouncements but by its practice and, when the need arises, by its punitive actions," he said.

Talking about the political situation in the country, he called upon the party workers to take it as a challenge.

"Consider the prevailing situation as a challenge and work for the party's success in the forthcoming polls," he said.

He, however, added that the party needed to work together to provide an alternative to the Congress.

To achieve this, the party needs to work on the agenda of good governance, and "credibly convey our conviction that we care, equally and without any discrimination," said Advani.

I welcome Advaniji's statement about not tolerating corruption.

If he had practised this speech when the corruption scan unraveled in Karnataka, the BJP's position there would not have been so bad.

BJP legislators are abandoning the party like rats on a sinking ship.

They can still save some of their prestige if the declare publicly that people who have criminal records will not be given party tickets.