Gadkari's comment on Anna's leadership metaphorical: Jaitley

Days after BJP chief Nitin Gadkari said the party is ready to march under Anna Hazare's leadership, senior leader Arun Jaitley insisted that the comments were only "metaphorical" and related to just the anti-corruption movement.

Days after BJP chief Nitin Gadkari said the party is ready to march under Anna Hazare's leadership, senior leader Arun Jaitley insisted that the comments were only "metaphorical" and related to just the anti-corruption movement.

HT Image

In a letter to Hazare after his fast, Gadkari had said his party was ready to march under his leadership.

Jaitley said the remarks made by the BJP president were "metaphorical" and the reference was to the anti-corruption campaign led by the Gandhian and not to any political movement.

"It's not a movement of political parties, it's even unlike the JP movement. Therefore, Anna has led this movement, and I think this movement is a positive movement. It's a kind of support to the spirit of that movement," Jaitley said in an interview to Karan Thapar for CNN IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

"I don't think it is a question of a political leadership because he (Hazare) is not in the business of politics. He (Gadkari) supports his battle against corruption. It is not an acceptance of a new political leader. He (Hazare) does not accept my party, we have not accepted his leadership. In the battle against corruption, he has become a symbol. There is no difficulty in honouring him for that," Jaitley said.

Extending its full support to the Gandhian and his cause in his letter, the BJP president had said that his party was ready to march under his leadership and would not let him down on the issue.