Scams during UPA rule have brought 'shame' to nation: Advani

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Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader L. K. Advani on Sunday said scams during the UPA regime have brought ‘shame’ to the entire nation.

"When India adopted the parliamentary form of democracy, big leaders of the world, including Winston Churchill, had criticised us. But, in the later years, India proved to be a successful democracy," he said.

"However, various scams during the UPA regime have defamed the nation. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have brought shame to the parliamentary form of democracy of the country," he said as his yatra entered Gujarat.

"I used to respect the PM earlier but the way he won the 2008 trust vote by adopting corrupt practices, no one will be able to forgive him for saving the government by buying MPs," he alleged.

Lauding Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for ‘good governance’ and making the state ‘corruption-free’, Advani said that he was overwhelmed by the reception he received in the state.

"Gujarat is the only state in the country, where there is good governance and 'swaraj'. This has been possible under the able leadership of Narendra Modi," he said.

On the issue of black money, Advani said that if the Rs 25 lakh crore, stashed away in foreign banks, is brought back to India, every village would get Rs 4 crore for development.

Advani's Jan Chetna Yatra was received by Narendra Modi.

Modi welcomed Advani with a garland of roses at Vapi on the border of Gujarat and Daman. Gujarat BJP president R. C. Faldu was also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Modi said, corruption and Congress have become synonymous.

"Wherever there is voice of corruption, it is always against the Congress. The two have become synonymous. Rajiv Gandhi might have won with a thumping majority, but one Bofors scam had thrown him off power," he said.

"But, Gujarat will not tolerate corruption. The nation, too, will not tolerate it. Gujarat has been the first to raise voice against corruption and that was against the Chimanbhai Patel regime of the Congress," Modi said.

"No matter what, those corrupt people in power, will have to bend before people's demands. Because, people know everything," the Gujarat chief minister added.

Modi said if there is a will, government can be run without corruption.

"The Congress (leaders) say they are 'helpless' about corruption, but I say it is their helplessness and not ours. Fight against corruption will continue, be it through Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev or Advaniji. The corrupt government will have to come down," he said.

Terming the Union government as ‘deaf and mute’, Modi asked, "Why does Congress not speak of bringing back black money to India? Why does it spend the day from morning to evening preparing statements for the media?"

"When Congress slings mud at BJP, the lotus (BJP party symbol) shines even brighter," Modi added.