BJP Rallies Behind Gadkari
Arun Jaitley said that the press conference held by India Against Corruption was just for publicity and refuted all charges made by Kejriwal. Defending Gadkari, he added that "the alleged plot in Vidarbha is a wasteland and is only in 11-year lease for growing sugarcane saplings." He blamed Team Kejriwal for damaging the credibility of civil society.
Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also backed Gadkari and said that the party supports him fully and said that BJP is very glad that their party president is not involved in any scam.
"It was wasteland, not farmland as alleged... It is wrongly alleged that it was farm land. Gadkari has provided subsidised sugarcane saplings to farmers of Maharashtra," she said.
The land was acquired in 1983-84 and the dam was built in 1997 and the farmers were paid total compensation during the process, she said.
"IAC also alleged that the dam water is being diverted to Gadkari's business. Only 0.85 per cent, less than one per cent, of water is being used by him. Gadkari has always said that he treats his business as a mission,"
RSS leader M G Vaidya said "I have seen the entire telecast where Kejriwal levelled allegations against Gadkari that he grabbed the land of poor farmers, but found them frivolous. Former Maharashtra Irrigation Minister Ajit Pawar should be asked why he preferred or favoured Gadkari (his firm) over other applicants (if any) in allocating the surplus land acquired by the government for a dam."
It seems...Kejriwal group was trying to paint a picture that their (newly-founded) party is better compared to both Congress and BJP," Vaidya said.
"Pehle Aap": Congress Asks BJP to Explain Themselves First
Congress asked Gadkari to clairfy before the nation the "very serious" allegations against him.
"We give the opportunity to BJP first to clarify each and every allegation before the nation. We are waiting for the answer from BJP first", party spokesman Rashid Alvi said.
Taking a dig at BJP, Alvi said "whenever these people make allegations against anyone or against us, BJP not only appreciates it but at the same tune, they make the same allegations without knowing the truth.
"Today, same people are making allegations against them and very serious allegations--not only BJP but its national president is involved", he said.
Digvijay Singh said, "I have been saying from the very beginning that Nitin Gadkari is more a businessman than a politician. What Kejriwal has said is nothing new."
In an apparent dig at the Kejriwal, Singh also said he would write a letter to Kejriwal to tell him that his intentions were not clear in exposing BJP. Congress has generally maintained that Kejriwal and his team were "B team" of BJP.
Let's have a look at the press release issued by Arvind Kejriwal:
