No end to attack on Gadkari

Another leader asks for BJP president's resignation

The list of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who are openly coming out against party President Nitin Gadkari is increasing every day. The recent addition to the list is Jagdish Shettigar, the economic advisor to BJP and national executive member, who said that Gadkari should take the best decision in the interest of the organisation.

Most of the senior leaders of the BJP, including LK Advani, are annoyed by the continuous support shown by Rahstriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for Gadkari and the senior most leader is of the opinion that Gadkari should step down from the top post without even completing his present tenure which ends in December this year.

“Nitin Gadkari is also a swayamsewak whose dharma is to protect the interest of the country first and then protect the interest of the organisation. So I am sure being a swayamsewak as per the conscience he will take the best step in the overall interest of the country and the organisation,” said Jagdish Shettigar, senior BJP leader.

The BJP President is under severe criticism both inside his party and by the other political parties because of consistent allegations of financial wrongdoings. The income tax and ministry of corporate affairs have already initiated a probe on the allegations.

“If what has been reported is correct then I think it is not as per what you call the norms of SEBI or other institutions,” Shettigar said while talking to reporters.

The first to demand for Gadkari’s resignation from the top post was Mahesh Jethmalani, who resigned from the membership of national executive committee. Soon after, senior Ram Jethmalani also launched scathing attack of Gadkari claiming that he had support of Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha.

Sensing the growing mood against Gadkari within BJP, RSS leadership rushed S Gurumurthy to rescue the BJP President. Gurumurthy tried to convince Advani that Gadkari was not involved in any financial wrongdoing but it didn’t help. Most of the senior leaders of the BJP are of the opinion that BJP should be led by a politically active person.

Senior leaders of the BJP fear that corruption allegations against Gadkari will not only affect the morale of the party cadre but also weaken the anti-corruption campaign launched against Congress led government by the main opposition party.