Jaitley denies links with controversial CD

Chandigarh, Apr 6 (UNI) BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley today categorically denied that the party had anything to do with the controversial CD related to Uttar Pradesh poll campaign and said the Election Commission directive to lodge an FIR in this case was irrelevant.

Mr Jaitley, who was interacting with the media here after addressing BJP activists on the occasion of 26th foundation day of the party, said the CD was released by Uttar Pradesh BJP leader Lalji Tandon ''by mistake'' and the BJP headquarter in New Delhi would soon issue an statement in this regard.

He also criticised a survey broadcast by a television channel regarding the UP assembly polls and said that such poll surveys were ''meaningless and often off the mark.'' The BJP leader asserted that the BJP, which was fighting the UP assembly elections on its own strength, would emerge victorious with a clear majority.

However, he refused to speculate about the total number of seats which the BJP expected to win. He also declined to comment on Allahbad High Court verdict that refused the minority status to Muslims in uttar Pradesh.

Mr Jaitley accused the Congress of encouraging nepotism and family-rule and said that unlike this party, which hinged upon the charisma of a certain family members, BJP had come on the strength of its own policy, ideals and principles.

Declining to comment upon its alliance partner in Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Jaitley said that the BJP had many outstanding leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani which even ruled at the Centre, but hardly anyone knew much about their families as they had not indulged in blatant promotion of their family members.

In contrast, Congress politics had alaways been ''family centric'' he said.

Earlier, addressing the BJP cadre, Mr Jaitley sought to remind them that the Party, on the strength of its own policy, had expanded its power from two parliamentarians to winning a majority and ruling at the Centre.

He exhorted the workers to begin working at grassroot level in preparation of the next Lok Sabha polls and expressed confidence that the party would come back to power at the Centre as well.

UNI