Advani's anti-graft yatra bribing its way through?

BJP veteran LK Advani’s Jan-Chetna yatra hit a road block in its Madhya Pradesh leg after a case of cash-for-coverage was brought to the fore by local media in Satna district in the state.

Envelopes containing currency notes of Rs 500-1,000 were allegedly handed out to journalists during a press conference called by a local BJP leader Ganesh Singh on Wednesday, 12 October,  in the presence of State PWD minister Nagendra Singh. The incident is said to have happened a day ahead of Advani’s arrival in Satna district.

The incident allegedly came to light after Arvind Mishra a journalist with the Hindi Daily Nai Dunia, returned the envelope handed out to him and reported the matter as a news story in his paper.

Responding to the allegations BJP veteran LK Advani skirted the issue by saying that he was not aware of the incident as none of the journalists present brought the incident to his notice, adding that he has asked the Madhya Pradesh BJP chief to look into the matter. “I have taken note of your allegations. I will ask him to get an inquiry conducted into the incident,” he said.

Denying the allegations the BJP MP Ganesh Singh said that although he called the press conference, he was unaware of what transpired  between journalists and party workers following the press conference. “BJP has organised bigger events, and such a thing has never happened. The party has never tried to bribe anyone. Now that such an incident has been brought to our notice, we will inquire into it,” he said.

The issue has cast a serious shadow over Advani’s yatra, which is aimed against corruption and the ruling Congress-led UPA government’s ‘inability’ to address the issues of corruption and black money in the country.

The Congress has slammed the BJP over the incident and accused it of maintaining double standards on corruption.

Agencies