The BJP today accused Congress leader Ashok Gehlot's brother of being involved in a scam during the UPA rule and alleged that his company exported subsidised fertiliser meant for domestic consumption -- a charge dismissed by the Congress.
Attacking the Congress over the issue, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said that the opposition party is "synonymous with corruption".
He alleged that the Congress violated all laws and regulations during its ten-year rule.
Congress leader Manish Tewari dared the ruling party to carry out a probe and prove the charges, alleging that the BJP uses such tactics to spread misinformation ahead of elections.
Citing a media report, Javadekar said that muriate of potash, a fertiliser imported by the country for farmers, was exported by the firm of Gehlot's brother Agrasain Gehlot during the UPA rule after claiming subsidy from the Centre on it.
"This is a clear case of theft of subsidy and all this happened between 2007 to 2009, when Congress-led UPA was in power at the Centre and during the period Gehlot had also assumed charge as the Rajasthan chief minister," Javadekar told reporters here.
He alleged that the cheaper rate at which the fertiliser was exported, raises doubts that it could be a case of "money laundering".
Congress spokesperson Tewari dismissed the charges as BJP's tactics to divert public attention.
He said the BJP cannot win elections on the basis of its performance as it failed to fulfil promises made to people and is thus using such tactics to spread misinformation.
Tewari said the basic charge is that of misuse of investigative agencies and "this is BJP's core ideological construct", with the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax being examples in this regard.
"The BJP cannot contest elections of its own or is capable of doing so due to its track record or governance model as it failed to fulfil the promises made to people. That is why ministers everyday are told to make such public statements.
"If Prakash Javadekar has some proof, then the entire government machinery which is misused by the government against its political opponents, is available with him and he could use that in this case too. When the court takes up the issue, then we will reply there," Tewari said.
Javadekar said that this "fertiliser scam" case came into limelight after custom officials caught its consignment, as the potash is meant for domestic consumption and its export is restricted.
"On one side Congress and its leaders talk about farmers and their issues, but the relatives of their party's Gujarat incharge is stealing the farmer's subsidy," he said and asked whether the Congress's top leadership will take action against those who had "stolen the farmer's rights".
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