Trashing accusations of money laundering and corruption against him, a combative BJP chief Nitin Gadkari today said he was ready to face a probe but asked why the Congress was reluctant to inquire into Robert Vadra’s dealings.
Gadkari also rubbished allegations made by Arvind Kejriwal of his having business links with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and controversial Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti. “I have no business links or partnership with them,” he said.
Accusing the Congress of plotting to malign him and defame the BJP, Gadkari alleged the ruling party had roped in some media houses in the conspiracy.
“But my conscience is clear. I run a social enterprise to improve the lives of the farmers of Vidarbha. I will never do anything that will make the BJP worker hang his head in shame,” the BJP leader said, addressing hundreds of party workers from a make-shift dais erected on a tempo on his arrival at the Mumbai airport.
“I am not afraid. ‘ Eet ka jawab pathar se dena janta hoon ’ (I know how to give tit for tat). In the last three-and-a-half years of my tenure, BJP is on the path of progress and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections will lead to the formation of an NDA government with a BJP leader as Prime Minister. This is the reason why the opponents are out to malign me through a media trial,” he said.
Dubbing Congress as a “corrupt” party, Gadkari said, “When you cannot convince, you make efforts to confuse. This is what the Congress is doing to confuse our party workers.”
Gadkari said he was ready for a probe into allegations against him. “I have not taken land or money from the Government nor have I misused my political position. I am ready for an inquiry, but why is not the ‘damaad’ of the Congress party,” he said, apparently referring to Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, facing accusations of dubious land deals with DLF.