BJP inducting 'tainted ministers', says Congress

New Delhi, Jan 4 (ANI): With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) inducting former Uttar Pradesh Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha into the party to strengthen its position ahead of the polls, the ruling Congress Party on Wednesday hit out at the main Opposition for inducting what it called tainted ministers.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi termed it to be very unfortunate, and accused the BJP of joining hands with corrupt people and also shielding them in an attempt to gain political mileage.

"I think the sole motive behind Advani's (BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani) 'Rath Yatra' was to look for these kinds of people from across the country and bring them to Bharatiya Janata Party," said Alvi.

"Till the time they are in other parties, they are corrupt and after they join the Bharatiya Janata Party their image becomes clean," he added.

Alvi further said that BJP is a two faced party, which on one side demands transparency and on other side shields the corrupt people.

"On one side they demand for a strong Lokpal Bill and on the other side they make such people join the Bharatiya Janata Party, so this shows what their intentions are and how will they fight the corruption," he said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) earlier in the day raided Kushwaha's residence for his alleged involvement in swindling funds allocated to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), a Central Government's health scheme for the rural population.

The investigating agency also conducted raids at over 50 other locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

Kushwaha has been named as an accused with 50 others including government officials in FIRs registered against the NRHM officials and private companies. They have been charged with criminal misconduct and abuse of office.

Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was sacked from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in November last year, joined the BJP yesterday.

The CBI raids at his residence have come as a mojor embarrassment for the BJP. (ANI)