BJP to hold state-wise protest on UPA-led govt

Pune, Aug 6: BJP national president Rajnath Singh today said the party will take to the streets in protest against the prevalence of wide-spread corruption in the UPA-led government that is shielding the Congress party in the 'Oil for Food' scam while making former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh a ''scapegoat''.

Mr Singh said he would not like to comment at this juncture as the report on the scam is still awaited, but reiterated his party's stand that Mr Natwar Singh was being made a 'scapegoat', and that the UPA-led government was shielding the Congress. He drew attention to the letter written by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the deal and demanded the government to thoroughly probe into that angle of the case. ''The BJP will take to the streets and agitate against corruption'', he added.

Talking about terrorism, BJP president said the United Nations must intervene and question Pakistan President Musharaf regarding the black- marketing of nuclear weapons from Pakistan and the existence of terrorist training camps in their country. He also exhorted Indian muslims to take to the streets against Pakistani sponsored terrorism on our soil. The Pakistan President wants proof but some media reports have already appeared proving the existence of terror-training camps there, he added.

Mr Singh said his party will demand a ''white paper'' on the price rise. The back breaking prices are a result of wrong economic policies pursued by the UPA-led government, he asserted. Sugar that was selling for Rs 13 has gone upto Rs 24 and ''only human life is cheap now and everything else has become expensive'', he said. He lamented that the sensex has dipped thrice this year. The rising cases of suicides among farmers are unfathomable and unpardonable, he added.

Mr Singh expressed strong reservations against the Centre's move to earmark 15 per cent of the budgetary allocation to minorities. The BJP will not allow this, he added. He also expressed concern about the situation in a few districts of West Bengal and Asom, where Hindus have become a minority.

Others who spoke on the occasion were senior party leaders, Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari. They said a state-wide agitation will be staged by the BJP against terrorism and the Mumbai blasts.

''The BJP will not rest till the state government is dislodged'', they said.

Mr Singh was in the city to attend a three-day meeting of party office- bearers of the state BJP to chalk out plans for the party's future.

UNI

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