GANDHINAGAR: BJP patriarch L K Advani said he was satisfied with the party's response to Lalitgate and Vyapam scam, in which senior leaders have come under the scanner, and asserted his opinion on these raging issues was no different from that of the saffron outfit.
Asked by reporters if recent controversies surrounding Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje have sullied BJP's image, Advani avoided a direct reply and said "people who are designated to deal with such matters are dealing with them."
Asked about his own opinion on these issues, the BJP veteran stated that his views are no different from those of his party. "I don't have a separate opinion. After watching reports on TV about these issues, I can say the party is doing a good job in dealing with these issues."
"I have always remained an advocate of non-corrupt practices. That is why I am satisfied (with BJP's response). From whatever I have seen on TV, I can say these issues have been properly dealt with," the ex-Deputy Prime Minister said.
Congress has demanded the resignations of Swaraj and Raje over their alleged links with former IPL chief Lalit Modi, facing money laundering and other criminal charges. The Sonia Gandhi-led party has also targeted Chouhan over the massive recruitment and admission scandal (Vyapam) in Madhya Pradesh, which is being now probed by CBI.
The former Union Home Minister declined to comment on the absence of Congress and some other non-BJP Chief Ministers from NITI Aayog's meeting in Delhi yesterday to discuss the Land Acquisition Bill.
"I will not comment on this issue. People who are associated with it are dealing with that and only they will only talk about it." Earlier, the Lok Sabha MP from Gandhiangar inaugurated a new hostel and a fitness centre at Sports Authority of India's complex here. He was accompanied by Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal.
Speaking at the event, Advani said the new facilities reminded him of Mahatma Mandir, a convention-cum-exhibition centre built when PM Narendra Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.
"I am delighted to inaugurate such modern facilities set up by Sports Authority. Such facilities are needed to produce sports persons who can win medals. Earlier, when Modiji (when he was CM) took me to Mahatma Mandir, I was impressed after seeing the work there. I am equally delighted today."