Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday embarked on his nationwide Janchetna Yatra to “clean up” Indian politics. While Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who flagged off the yatra from Chapra, came out in full support of it,
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi also tried to put to rest speculation of a rift with Mr Advani over the yatra. Mr Modi, in his blog, wrote he has full faith in the yatra, which is against corruption.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Advani, Mr Kumar and senior BJP leaders visited socialist Jayaprakash Narayan’s birthplace in Sitabdiara to pay respect to him on his birth anniversary. There had been speculation within the BJP that Mr Modi was angry about the yatra due to which its starting point was changed from Gujarat to Bihar.
The Bihar CM also criticised the state Opposition for trying to give a communal colour to the yatra which, he said, is the outcome of the people’s anger at rampant corruption under the UPA regime. He also thanked Mr Advani for choosing JP’s birth anniversary to embark on this yatra. “This yatra is against corruption,” said the Bihar CM. He added that the Opposition is trying to malign the yatra’s aim by trying to give it a communal colour. Mr Kumar also mentioned Anna Hazare, saying corruption is such a big concern for the common man that people supported the Gandhian agitation even when he didn’t have the support of an organisation.