Unprecedented support for nationwide anti-graft tour: Advani

Patna, Oct 12 (ANI): Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani, who began his 38-day 'Jan Chetna Yatra' from Bihar's Sitabdiara village on Tuesday, reckons that the support for his yatra is the greatest achievement of his political career.

Addressing a rally here, Advani claimed that the overwhelming support was a sign that people were fed up with corruption.

"In all my six rath yatras I have not seen this level of human wall or human chain from the start to the end. It was a continuous chain and, not of our volunteers, but it was the common people of Bihar queuing on both sides of the road to welcome this tour and to pledge that we will not tolerate corruption," said Advani.

He further said corruption had become so all-pervasive that people had had enough of it and wanted to root it out completely.

"The level of corruption that has been happening and especially under the second stint of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and it is high time that corruption has to stop and it is enough," added Advani.

Advani expressed confidence that his nation-wide tour against corruption would be successful, as the objective was to make the people aware about the harm that was caused to the nation due to the misgovernance of the UPA Government.

"I have confidence that all the questions that are to be taken to curb corruption, would be raised in the upcoming conclave, whether it is a question on Lokpal or a question on providing relief facilities for the common man, or a question on retrieving black money. Therefore, this campaign will definitely be a success," he said.

Advani's much-hyped journey to take on the UPA Government on the corruption issue and press for return of black money stashed away abroad is going to encompass 23 states, four Union Territories, which will include 100 districts and 7600 kilometres.

The yatra will see Advani boarding 14 special aircraft and six helicopters. He has to visit a total of 46 places across the country. The 38-day long yatra will conclude in Delhi on November 20 in the form of a massive rally.

However, many political parties have claimed that Advani's procession was motivated by the upcoming general elections to be held in 2014.

Advani had organised a similar yatra in the 1990's, to mobilise support towards building a temple dedicated to Lord Rama in Ayodhya.

In 2004, he had taken out another chariot procession to reiterate the demand to build the Lord Rama temple in Ayodhya. (ANI)