Stating that Gadkari had written a letter even to the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for release of money for the controversial Gosikhurd project, the ruling party warned BJP that it will "dig its own grave" if he continues at the helm.
"When the BJP President says, he can write ten such letters, it creates doubts that 20 such contractors may emerge.... Why he has so much interest in it. There has to be some relation.
"Definitely the contractor is someone for whom he is very concerned. This requires an explanation. It should be thoroughly probed to find out after all what is the matter," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.
Gadkari wrote to Union Water Resources Ministry P K Bansal on July 30 this year seeking release of funds for the Gosikhurd project. The BJP chief's detractors allege that it was aimed at benefiting his associate Ajay Sancheti, who is said to be among the contractors for the project.
The project is already in controversy over an alleged scam involving NCP leader Ajit Pawar who quit recently in wake of charges of corruption. BJP has made a big issue out of it. Dwivedi also hit out at BJP on the issue.
"Being in Opposition does not mean that you will level all sorts of allegations against others and you will go silent when allegations are on you".
While Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh yesterday demanded resignation of Gadkari, Dwivedi sought to rub it in saying, "We will welcome if the principle Opposition party keeps on having such a President. If he remains its President, BJP will dig its own grave without our doing anything".
"There is nothing wrong in writing letters for public-orieted projects but doing it for a project in which anomalies have been found and which is regularly getting delayed does raise question marks," the Congress spokesperson said.
Gadkari had yesterday defended his action, saying he had asked the Centre to release funds for the Gosikhurd project to help the farmers and not for the benefit of any contractor close to him.
