Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) As the controversy over a CD linking Lokpal Bill joint panel co-chair Shanti Bhushan to a dubious legal deal continued, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday alleged that the Congress-led government was trying to defame the anti-corruption campaign of Anna Hazare.

“The central government has given ’supari’ (contract) to professionals to defame the anti-corruption campaign of Shri Anna Hazare,” BJP vice pesident Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here.

The ’supari’ has been given to the same people who were given the responsibility of saving the government and ensuring its victory through cash-for-vote on US nuclear supply agreement, he added.

“It is very unfortunate that the government and the Congress are saying one thing but are adopting various low-level, shameful and immoral tactics to defame anti-corruption campaign behind the curtain,” Naqvi added.

The CD has a man said to be Shanti Bhushan telling Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and then party general secretary Amar Singh that a judge could be “fixed” for Rs.4 crore.

“The central government is directly accountable for all the serious scams and corruption matters. If government still ignores massive public anger and continues to support the conspiracy to defame this campaign and public anger against corruption, it will result in explosive consequences,” Naqvi added.

Denying the charges, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Naqvi’s “company of conspiracy” was to be blamed for his statement.

“Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is a dear friend, but unfortunately the company of conspiracy that he is a fellow traveller in, does create a siege mentality. If he has given some analysis, it is not his fault but the fault of the company he keeps,” Tewari said.