BJP demands apology from Manmohan, Sonia

HYDERABAD: The BJP launched a three-day programme on Thursday to reach out to people across the country to create awareness about the ‘misdeeds’ of the UPA government at the Centre. It will also launch a four-day nationwide agitation from June 23 against black money and corruption, and perils to democracy.Announcing this at a press conference here on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman said the central government launched a ruthless crackdown on a one-day hunger strike camp organised by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev at the Ramlila Grounds in Delhi recently. The raid was premeditated and displayed the ‘authoritarian streak’ of the Centre.Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should apologise to the nation for violating the constitutional rights of citizens to peacefully protest against policies of the government.Asked about BJP’s support to Ramdev, she said, “We support Baba Ramdev as the cause is important to us. There has been no answer from the government on the questions being raised about action taken against the accused in the black money case.” On the alleged divided opinion within the Congress, she said the ruling party was split into two groups -one which comprised mature leaders like Pranab Mukherjee who rolled out the red carpet and wanted to persuade Ramdev by engaging him in a dialogue and the other which sought absolute control over any situation.P.Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal belonged to the latter category, she said.Condemning the comments made by prime minister Manmohan Singh and minister Kapil Sibal in the wake of the police action, Sitaraman reserved her bitter criticism for another Congress leader Digvijay Singh. “The Congress general secretary (Digvijay Singh) referred to the slain terrorist Osama bin Laden as Osamaji but described Ramdev as a thug. Sadly, none of the senior leaders of the Congress raised any objection.” she said.Calling the UPA government a rudderless ship, she quipped, “The person holding the post of prime minister has no powers and the person who wields powers is not answerable to people.” Criticising the “selective sympathy” displayed by the Congress, Sitaraman said no minister or ruling party leader visited those injured during the police crackdown at Ramlila Grounds unlike the case of Congress’ campaign at Bhatta Parsaul in Uttar Pradesh.She said the list of the accused in the black-money case had been with the government since 2008 and of the 22 accused, it handpicked only 18 names to be submitted to the Supreme Court.