PM heading most corrupt govt in India's history: BJP
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister and the "first family" of the Congress on Tuesday, accusing the PM of heading the most corrupt government of independent India.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister and the "first family" of the Congress on Tuesday, accusing the PM of heading the most corrupt government of independent India.
He was addressing BJP Delhi state activists to explain issues like the 2G spectrum scam and the Bofors scandal to them.
"The PM's admirers say that he is an economist and perhaps personally honest," Jaitley said. "About his being an economist, we are getting to know from inflation; and about his honesty, it is strange that an honest man heads the most corrupt government in India since 1947."
He added that while the 2G scam could be blamed on former telecom minister A Raja of the DMK — and that about Bofors the PM could say he was not in politics when it took place — he had to take responsibility for the appointment of a person facing corruption charges on the top vigilance post of CVC despite Sushma Swaraj's objections. "The present CVC hangs around the PM's neck like an albatross," he said.
"When Congressmen see the corrupt, they have a sense of affinity for them. So, as one, PJ Thomas, of the three names was charged with corruption, the PM and home minister chose them," Jaitley said.
He added that if Thomas did not step down from the post even after the SC approval allowing the probe against him, India would be the butt of jokes the world over for a tainted man occupying the top vigilance office.
He then reiterated that Bofors was the one scam that went straight to the doorstep of the then Prime Minister: "Who was Quattrocchi close to? Not Manmohan Singh.. Let Congress say who he was close to. They know the truth… the first family of the Congress."