Statement : Shri L.K. Advani Chairperson NDA Parliamentary Party during his Jan Chetna Yatra at Chhattisgarh

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Statement issued by Shri L.K. Advani, Chairperson NDA Parliamentary Party
during his Jan Chetna Yatra at Raipur (Chhattisgarh)

At the outset, I pay homage to the six brave Chhattisgarh Police constables who were recently killed by Naxalites near Jagdalpur. They have joined the ranks of those martyred in defence of democracy and the rule of law. This State under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has waged a relentless battle against those who have no faith in the Constitution or democracy. These people are stalling the development of backward regions, destroying schools, preventing road construction and other schemes to bring prosperity and peace. 

Unfortunately, the Centre’s inconsistent policy towards Naxalite violence, indifference to State Governments’ efforts to establish order and pave the way for economic progress, has hampered India’s fight against internal subversion. BJP Governments in States affected by Maoist violence have, on the other hand, been consistent and determined. We will continue this fight-back against all forms of terrorism, including Naxalite violence, because the BJP is deeply committed to preserving and promoting pluralist democracy.

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But I am not surprised that the Congress-led UPA Government in Delhi has failed to adopt a consistent policy on this and many other problems facing the country. The Manmohan Singh regime has been so weakened by the succession of gigantic corruption scandals that it has no capacity left to respond to challenges. Just yesterday, the Delhi High Court has admitted the final charge sheet presented by the CBI against 17 persons in the massive 2G Spectrum scam. The prosecution has filed the charges under sections of the law that entail life imprisonment for the accused if they are found guilty of criminal conspiracy to loot the country’s resources.

The Prime Minister prides himself on his personal integrity. However, the fact that the loot happened under his nose and, from all accounts with his knowledge, puts a serious question mark on his leadership.

While the framing of charges of fraud against a former Minister, several officials, an MP, and functionaries of companies that allegedly benefited from the scam is welcome, I believe the probe has left some important facets out of its ambit.

Despite elaborate attempts at a cover-up, the role of former Finance Minister and incumbent Home Minister, Shri P Chidambaram, clearly merits serious investigation.

What prompted the Finance Ministry to change its stated position on
auctioning scarce spectrum remains an abiding mystery. Why did Shri Chidambaram concur with Shri A Raja’s decision to allot spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices, days after giving an opinion to the contrary?

The suspicion that the money trail did not end with the charge-sheeted persons is growing stronger every day, especially after it was revealed through an RTI application that Shri Pranab Mukherjee, senior-most member of the Cabinet had also opposed this transaction.

I demand that the Supreme Court-directed investigation into the 2G Spectrum scam must be extended to probing his role and that of officials of the Finance Ministry of the time.

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Let me reiterate that my current Yatra is for the restoration of a value system in governance that we seem to be losing. The cancer of corruption is destroying the soul of our great civilisation. The siphoning of public funds into private pockets is at the root of runaway inflation.

Incredible amounts of black money have been taken out of our country and stashed away in Swiss banks and other tax havens abroad. I raised this issue way back in 2009 but the UPA regime has shown no interest in pursuing this criminal diversion of funds.

I am travelling across the country to rouse people’s consciousness on the issue of corruption for that is the real obstacle to good governance. We need clean politics, good governance and a moral fibre.

The people of India have repeatedly risen to such challenges in the past. My limited aspiration is to appeal to their conscience to rise again to turn back the tide of corruption and moral degeneration, which threatens to nullify the gains of India’s economic growth.

India’s vibrant media is a partner and instrument in this struggle. I appeal to you to join this endeavour because the future of this great civilisation depends on the outcome of the war against corruption for that alone can lead to clean politics and good governance.