Advani in Karnataka, says no compromise against corruption

MANGALORE: Hardening his stand against corruption including the recent turn of events in the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran BJP leader LK Advani on Monday stressed on the need for credibility in public life.

Credibility is the biggest virtue in public life, and it is this principle which made me all the more determined not to skip Karnataka leg of the Jan Chetna Yatra, and convey my views on the issue to people of the state.

Addressing the Mangalore leg of the yatra at Nehru Maidan on Monday, Advani said, "There are nine states across India where the BJP is in power, either on its own or with its allies. But there are no major problems in those states as there was in Karnataka, and not to the extent seen in this state." The issues in other BJP ruled states were minor and this only fortified my decision to come to Karnataka and speak out my mind, he pointed.

The state BJP government has to be judged as we want it to be judged and not according to how others want it to be, Advani said. Asserting that the party does not want to be spared in the state when it is spearheading a national movement against corruption through the yatra, Advani said, the central theme of the yatra is to root out corruption, get back black money stashed away in tax havens abroad and create a clean and fair nation.

Stating that he has clearly instructed CM DV Sadananda Gowda on what his priorities should be vis-a-vis corruption and good governance and not to compromise in fight against corruption, Advani said, "I am more concerned about what is happening in my own party unit as I am concerned with what is happening on the corruption front at the Central government level," Advani said without referring to any incident or state party unit leader by name.

The intent to take on corruption should be there at all levels, irrespective of the fact that one succeeds or not, he said, adding if the person does not exhibit the resolve to fight corruption, then their credibility would come under a scanner. Lashing out at the central government, Advani said, a government that should have protected whistleblowers in the cash for votes scam is punishing them, and this clearly states where the UPA stands on corruption. 

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