New Delhi:
Arvind Kejriwal has promised to expose more corruption at the top of the political ladder this evening. Though he or his associates haven't named anyone yet, the name reported to be on top of the activist-turned-politician's list is BJP chief Nitin Gadkari. He is already facing charges of collusion with the NCP in the Rs 70,000 crore Maharashtra irrigation scam.
Yesterday, Mr Kejriwal mocked the BJP, telling it not to worry too much, because "politicians always get away scot free".
Now, hours before the "expose" promised by Mr Kejriwal, BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj has tweeted: "We will not run away from the debate like damaad-ji has. We are under no pressure, we have nothing to hide."
The reference to "damaad-ji" is to Robert Vadra, who is the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mr Vadra is caught in the middle of accusations of illicit business deals with real estate giants DLF and the Haryana government. Mr Vadra has not yet publicly spoken to defend himself, though several government ministers and Congress spokespersons have. Mr Vadra stuck to two Facebook posts to react to the accusations, including one that said "mango people in a banana republic", that created another minor political storm.
Mr Kejriwal is expected to hold a press conference today at around 5 pm.
When Arvind Kejriwal formed his political party earlier this month, he said he would "expose corrupt leaders". So far, he has focused mainly on Mr Vadra and union Law Minister Salman Khurshid.
The BJP seized the opportunity to corner the government and demanded a fair probe. However, a day before Mr Kejriwal's "expose" on Mr Gadkari, senior party leader Arun Jaitley seemed to have a word of caution for him. When asked if he was worried about Mr Kejriwal's disclosures, Mr Jaitley suggested that activists must ensure that sanctity of truth is not sacrificed for populism.
"Well I think those who indulge in exposes must always be extra careful about every word they say. Populism should not push them. This whole desire of being before the flood light should not bring in a situation where they say more than what actually appears. The sanctity of truth must also be maintained," he said.
Mr Kejriwal reacted saying that not just the BJP, no politician in the country should worry, because "they always go scot-free". "I don't know why the BJP is so worried. No politician in this country needs to worry. No action will ever be taken against anyone," he said late in the evening.
Mr Jaitley further added that "Individual reputations must be balanced with the need of probity and therefore unless you are very sure of what you are saying, I don't think you must cross the line. Therefore words must be measured, allegations must be measured. I think people in the civil society and in those organisations which have raised this campaign may be doing it out of the best motivation but they have to be very careful about what they say because their own credibility is also at stake. If you falter once, people will not believe you the next time."
On Monday, Mr Kejriwal suggested that the BJP is not vociferously joining him in attacking Mr Khurshid over allegations that his NGO in Uttar Pradesh siphoned Rs. 71 lakh meant to help differently-abled people in the state as it is "afraid" of disclosures against party president Nitin Gadkari.
"The BJP is silent because it is scared that very soon even Nitin Gadkari is also going to be exposed. They are thinking if they will keep silent, the Congress will also not attack them and remain quiet. Both parties are trying to save themselves," he added.
Mr Kejriwal has said that both the Congress and BJP are entrenched in corruption, and that is why he wants to provide a political alternative to voters.
He is likely to hold a press conference today along with his associate and Right to Information activist Anjali Damania, who told NDTV today that she and her team have a lot of documents to prove corruption charges against many politicians. "We will reveal some of these documents every week," she said.
Ms Damania shot into headlines last month for helping expose a scam worth Rs. 70,000 crore in Maharashtra, centred on the construction of dams and canals. Ms Damania said that at a meeting at his home in August, Mr Gadkari had suggested that she drop her attempts to go to court with the documents she had collected through the Right to Information Act. She claimed that the BJP president told her that he has business links with Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP, which co-governs Maharashtra with the Congress.
Mr Gadkari has sued Ms Damania for defamation and has denied meeting her.
Yesterday, Mr Kejriwal mocked the BJP, telling it not to worry too much, because "politicians always get away scot free".
Now, hours before the "expose" promised by Mr Kejriwal, BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj has tweeted: "We will not run away from the debate like damaad-ji has. We are under no pressure, we have nothing to hide."
The reference to "damaad-ji" is to Robert Vadra, who is the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mr Vadra is caught in the middle of accusations of illicit business deals with real estate giants DLF and the Haryana government. Mr Vadra has not yet publicly spoken to defend himself, though several government ministers and Congress spokespersons have. Mr Vadra stuck to two Facebook posts to react to the accusations, including one that said "mango people in a banana republic", that created another minor political storm.
Mr Kejriwal is expected to hold a press conference today at around 5 pm.
When Arvind Kejriwal formed his political party earlier this month, he said he would "expose corrupt leaders". So far, he has focused mainly on Mr Vadra and union Law Minister Salman Khurshid.
The BJP seized the opportunity to corner the government and demanded a fair probe. However, a day before Mr Kejriwal's "expose" on Mr Gadkari, senior party leader Arun Jaitley seemed to have a word of caution for him. When asked if he was worried about Mr Kejriwal's disclosures, Mr Jaitley suggested that activists must ensure that sanctity of truth is not sacrificed for populism.
"Well I think those who indulge in exposes must always be extra careful about every word they say. Populism should not push them. This whole desire of being before the flood light should not bring in a situation where they say more than what actually appears. The sanctity of truth must also be maintained," he said.
Mr Kejriwal reacted saying that not just the BJP, no politician in the country should worry, because "they always go scot-free". "I don't know why the BJP is so worried. No politician in this country needs to worry. No action will ever be taken against anyone," he said late in the evening.
Mr Jaitley further added that "Individual reputations must be balanced with the need of probity and therefore unless you are very sure of what you are saying, I don't think you must cross the line. Therefore words must be measured, allegations must be measured. I think people in the civil society and in those organisations which have raised this campaign may be doing it out of the best motivation but they have to be very careful about what they say because their own credibility is also at stake. If you falter once, people will not believe you the next time."
On Monday, Mr Kejriwal suggested that the BJP is not vociferously joining him in attacking Mr Khurshid over allegations that his NGO in Uttar Pradesh siphoned Rs. 71 lakh meant to help differently-abled people in the state as it is "afraid" of disclosures against party president Nitin Gadkari.
"The BJP is silent because it is scared that very soon even Nitin Gadkari is also going to be exposed. They are thinking if they will keep silent, the Congress will also not attack them and remain quiet. Both parties are trying to save themselves," he added.
Mr Kejriwal has said that both the Congress and BJP are entrenched in corruption, and that is why he wants to provide a political alternative to voters.
He is likely to hold a press conference today along with his associate and Right to Information activist Anjali Damania, who told NDTV today that she and her team have a lot of documents to prove corruption charges against many politicians. "We will reveal some of these documents every week," she said.
Ms Damania shot into headlines last month for helping expose a scam worth Rs. 70,000 crore in Maharashtra, centred on the construction of dams and canals. Ms Damania said that at a meeting at his home in August, Mr Gadkari had suggested that she drop her attempts to go to court with the documents she had collected through the Right to Information Act. She claimed that the BJP president told her that he has business links with Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP, which co-governs Maharashtra with the Congress.
Mr Gadkari has sued Ms Damania for defamation and has denied meeting her.
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