Maneka Gandhi terms induction of tainted leaders a blot on BJP's image

Bareilly, Jan 6 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Maneka Gandhi on Friday expressed her displeasure over the induction of sacked Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Babu Singh Kushwaha in the party, and said that absorbing tainted and corrupt politicians was like a blot on the image of the party.

"It does not put us in good light by inducting expelled politicians on charges of corruption of other parties. I don't think any senior leader was consulted before taking this decision and if leaders of BJP in Uttar Pradesh are asked then we all are very upset by it," Gandhi told the media here.

"Either him (Babu Singh Kushwaha) or any other leader of BSP who was expelled should not been included in the BJP, because for the past five years they had troubled the state and country. Living on the might of police, they have conducted many malpractices under police protection and now they are in BJP. I don't think it suits us," she added.

According to certain media reports, an internal fighting has developed within the BJP just days ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh as several of its leaders are upset over Kushwaha's inducting in the party.

Moreover, the BJP's decision to induct Kushwaha in an endeavor to strengthen its hold in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh is under severe criticism from the leaders of various political outfits.

Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was sacked from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), joined the BJP on Tuesday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on Wednesday 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 conducted raids at over 50 other locations in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

Kushwaha, a prominent OBC leader from Uttar Pradesh, 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. (ANI)