BJP leader and economist Subramanian Swamy on Monday claimed that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and P Chidambaram were part of the 2G spectrum scam, but they managed to escape punishment.
He was speaking at an interactive session with an audience in the city. He alleged that Sonia and Chidambaram had taken more bribes than A Raja.
He also said the BJP has its task cut out in ensuring that dynasty politics does not creep into the party. “The problem lies with people who vote in favour of dynasty politics,” he said.
He also explained how he had played a key role in the developing the country’s economy, taking a paradigm shift from the Soviet Union model to the market-oriented one. He fondly recalled his days in former prime minister Chandra Shekar’s cabinet and his association with late prime minister P V Narasimha Rao.
“Given Rao’s contribution to liberate the economy, he should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna posthumously, once Narendra Modi comes to power,” he suggested.
Swamy defended former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and said the corruption charges against him were baseless. “Former Lokayukta Santhosh Hegde should be sent to jail for his baseless reports,” he said, to overwhelming response from the audience, a majority of whom were Yeddyurappa supporters. “I am ready to take on anyone in a debate on this issue,” he added.
He was also sarcastic about Medha Patkar and her opposition to the Narmada Dam in Gujarat. “She threatened that she would die if the project was implemented but she is still alive and well,” he stated.