BJP Has No Right To Yell

The principal opposition party, the BJP seems to be in a good mood these days as it is going hammer and tongs on the corruption in the UPA 2 government at the Centre. Its spokespersons are coming up with bizarre statements on a daily basis advising the central government how to tackle corruption.

But it’s a classic case of the kettle calling the pot black. Let’s see how the BJP reacted to the corruption scandals in its own back yard?

a)     Swami Nigamananda, who was on fast for nearly four months demanding a halt to quarrying in Ganga, died due to coma, septicemia and degenerative brain disorder. The 36-year-old seer of the Haridwar-based Matri Sadan Ashram was on indefinite fast since February 19. Swami Nigmananda was in coma while BJP leaders made a beeline to visit Baba Ramdev (in the next room in the same hospital in Dehradun) who was looking for an opportunity to break his fast. Ramdev broke his vow midway, while the true Swami died fighting for Ma Ganga. So much for the religion and Hindutva of the BJP.

b)    The Himachal scandal on private universities. BJP MP Rajan Sushant has launched a blistering attack on the HP government led by Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal for indiscriminately sanctioning 18 private universities and called it the biggest scandal and an attempt to commercialize education with dubious business motives.

c)     The Karnataka mining and land scams.

d)    Kargil Coffin scam, Ketan Parikh securities scam, Sukhram Telecom scam, hawala scandal, petrol pump scam, telecom scam, Barak Missile scandal -- are among the host of scams which hit the NDA government when it was in power for six years till 2004.

Yes, some scams have hit the UPA 2 government – but it has taken remedial measures to ensure that corruption is fought systemically. Former union minister A Raja is in jail in the 2G spectrum scam so are the corporate honchos. Another minister had to quit his post and daughter of the DMK boss is in jail. Suresh Kalmadi, the chief architect in the Commonwealth Games scam is cooling heels in Tihar. So are his compatriots. Chief minister Ashok Chavan had to resign after the Adarsh scandal broke.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi PM Manmohan Singh and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi have adopted a “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption. The message is loud and clear – no refuge for corrupt people in the party as well the government.

The BJP needs to take a lesson or two from the Congress and first set its own house in order before attacking the ruling coalition.