Hazare did not seek BJP's support for his movement: Rajnath

Kushinagar (UP), Oct 29: Former BJP president Rajnath Singh today (Oct 29) clarified that Anna Hazare had never asked for his party's support in the ongoing anti-graft movement, but stated it would always be with those fighting for any national cause.

"Anna Hazare never asked for our help, and our support to his movement is only moral and not an active one. If any individual or organisation gives a call on any issue in the interest of the country, BJP is ready to extend its support," Singh said while inaugurating the two day-session of BJP's state executive here.

Questioning whether it was a crime to support a movement which was in the country's interest, Singh alleged there was an attempt to blunt the movement by casting aspersions that it had the backing of BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The BJP leader, in an apparent attack on Congress leader Digvijay Singh, alleged that a Congress general secretary was working to demoralise those who are behind the anti-graft movement.

He said this leader has been praying for those presently behind bars on graft charges, but was not doing the same for the country on the corruption issue. Singh asserted that the intentions and objectives of his party are clear with regard to the anti-graft movement -- it should not be politicised.

Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh said probable party candidates for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections have been identified.

"Probable candidates for the coming assembly elections have been identified on the basis of their winability as per a survey conducted by the party," Singh said.

The BJP leader also warned ticket seekers of any possible rebellion in the event of denial of ticket, saying that such people need not work for the party.

Singh recalled that he was once denied ticket too, but eventually rewarded for his patience.

Exuding confidence that his party would come to power in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said the people are looking towards the BJP for change after experiencing both the Samajwadi Party and BSP governments.

Stressing that BJP should go into the elections on positive issues, Singh said that it would be wrong to base the the campaign on the failures of the previous two governments as success cannot be built on negativity.

"Once BJP party forms its government in Uttar Pradesh no one would be able to stop it from coming to power at the Centre," he said.

Terming both the Samajwadi Party and BSP as "sympathisers" of the Congress, Singh said the two parties have backed the Congress-led government at the Centre even on issues such as corruption and inflation.

The former BJP president also took a dig at the Congress for its various policies, saying the country would today have been a more developed one if it had worked earnestly in this regard.

PTI