Gadkari hits out at Anshuman Mishra, calls allegations baseless

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) Joining other party leaders in slamming NRI businessman Anshuman Mishra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nitin Gadkari Sunday dismissed the allegations levelled by Mishra as "baseless".

In a statement issued by the party office here, the party president dismissed "as baseless and misleading all the allegations levelled by NRI businessman Anshuman Mishra against senior BJP leaders".

"Anshuman Mishra's motivated and selective tirade against some of the top BJP leaders is nothing but an expression of frustration over his failure to make it to the Raja Sabha with the support of BJP MLAs from Jharkhand," Gadkari said.

Mishra, who was dropped soon after being backed for a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand, alleged that party leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who heads the PAC looking into the 2G scam, and a "female friend" of his had asked him to arrange meetings with companies who allegedly benefited from the 2G scam.

Mishra, according to sources, was backed by Gadkari, but dropped after widespread in the party as senior party leader S.S. Ahluwalia was dropped to accommodate him from Jharkhand seat.

However, joining the debate Sunday, the BJP president urged the party rank and file to "ignore Anshuman Mishra's deliberate attempt to create confusion by spreading falsehood".

Gadkari even appealed to the media "not to take cognizance of Anshuman Mishra's unsubstantiated and wild statements against our senior leaders, all of whom have a proven track record of probity in public life and have always enjoyed an unblemished reputation".