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Mr Advani, how about the Raavan within?
Updated On: 31 October, 2011 06:40 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
On a countrywide Rath Yatra to fight against Raavan of corruption, Veteran leader plays down the issue of graft in the ruling BJP in the state, shares dais with scam-tainted Home Minister R Ashok
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On a countrywide Rath Yatra to fight against Raavan of corruption, Veteran leader plays down the issue of graft in the ruling BJP in the state, shares dais with scam-tainted Home Ministeru00a0R Ashok
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As his much-hyped Jan Chetna Yatra entered the state yesterday, veteran BJP leader L K Advani preached a 15,000-strong crowd that 'good governance cannot coexist with corruption', but he showed little inhibition in sharing the dais with scam-tainted Home Minister R Ashok.
In a departure from his all-out attack on corrupt leaders and governments in others states, the BJP patriarch chose to play down the slew of graft charges faced by ministers of his own party in Karnataka.
Raavan within?
According to political observers, the move sent out a message that 'the party with a difference' is no different and is equally clueless about how to fight the metaphorical Raavan of corruption within the party rank and file.
So what made Advani, who had been clamouring on his way to Bangalore that no tainted leader should be allowed to participate in his anti-graft rally, soften his stand and share the dais with scam-tainted Ashok?
Tacit deal
According to sources in the BJP, it was the result of a tacit understanding between the warring L K Advani and B S Yeddyurappa factions. The Yeddyurapp camp demanded that the tainted-leader's picture be shown along with Advani in the backdrop of the dais.
After initially reluctance, the Advani camp, headed by H N Anath Kumar, agreed only on the condition that the rival faction won't object to Ashok sharing the dais with the party patriarch during the rally.
As per the original plan, the pictures of only two national leaders Advani and party president Nitin Gadkari was to be shown in the picture in the backdrop. But, Yeddyurappa supporters mounted pressure the organizers, members of the Advani camp, to put up a picture of their leader also.
u00a0
As his much-hyped Jan Chetna Yatra entered the state yesterday, veteran BJP leader L K Advani preached a 15,000-strong crowd that 'good governance cannot coexist with corruption', but he showed little inhibition in sharing the dais with scam-tainted Home Minister R Ashok.
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| Home and Transport Minister R Ashoku00a0looks on, while senior BJP leader LK Advani addresses a public meeting in the city as part of the later's Jan Chetana Yatra yesterday |
In a departure from his all-out attack on corrupt leaders and governments in others states, the BJP patriarch chose to play down the slew of graft charges faced by ministers of his own party in Karnataka.
Raavan within?
According to political observers, the move sent out a message that 'the party with a difference' is no different and is equally clueless about how to fight the metaphorical Raavan of corruption within the party rank and file.
So what made Advani, who had been clamouring on his way to Bangalore that no tainted leader should be allowed to participate in his anti-graft rally, soften his stand and share the dais with scam-tainted Ashok?
Tacit deal
According to sources in the BJP, it was the result of a tacit understanding between the warring L K Advani and B S Yeddyurappa factions. The Yeddyurapp camp demanded that the tainted-leader's picture be shown along with Advani in the backdrop of the dais.
After initially reluctance, the Advani camp, headed by H N Anath Kumar, agreed only on the condition that the rival faction won't object to Ashok sharing the dais with the party patriarch during the rally.
As per the original plan, the pictures of only two national leaders Advani and party president Nitin Gadkari was to be shown in the picture in the backdrop. But, Yeddyurappa supporters mounted pressure the organizers, members of the Advani camp, to put up a picture of their leader also.
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| The BJP'su00a0 anti-graft rally was cut short by the downpour that lashed the city yesterday evening. Arond 15,000 people had thronged the venue to listen to BJP patriarch and other leaders Read Next Story Trending StoriesLatest Photos |
