Bharatiya Janata Party former president Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that his party is ready to face the mid-term polls. Mr Singh, who was in Mumbai, said that the Congress is using the threat of the mid-term polls as a arm twisting tactic to defy the Opposition over the demand of a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2G spectrum scam.
“The BJP is not afraid of facing mid-term polls. The Congress has started talking about mid-term polls as a threat to the Opposition. We don’t mind facing the election and are not even worried about a possible defeat. But we will not allow the UPA government to sweep the `1.75 lakh crores spectrum scam under the carpet. We will not settle for anything less than a JPC probe,” Mr Singh said.
On the question of the Congress’ offer to hold discussion on a JPC probe, the BJP leader said that the discussion on this issue has already been held. “There is no need for further discussions. It is time to act. If the government is sure that it has nothing to fear, then it should agree for a JPC probe. It is trying to avoid the probe because it wants to cover up corruption,” he said.
Mr Singh further said that the Opposition has been demanding a JPC for impartial, in-depth and speedy inquiry into these scams.
He said, “Instead of complying with our demand for the JPC, the government is trying to jeopardise the course of justice by indulging in a blame game. The Congress is now openly blaming the BJP for the dead lock situation in the Parliament. The UPA government seems to have forgotten that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the Parliament’s smooth functioning, whereas the Opposition parties are expected to play the role of ‘whistleblower’ if the government is corrupt, anti-people or undemocratic.”