NDA to hold nationwide rallies against corruption-TNN, Dec 15, 2010,

NDA to hold nationwide rallies against corruption

TNN, Dec 15, 2010, 05.13am IST

NEW DELHI: The UPA-opposition confrontation over the latter's demand for a parliamentary probe into the spectrum scam will now spill over to the streets, with the BJP-led NDA on Tuesday announcing plans for nation-wide rallies on the issue of massive corruption in 2G spectrum and other scams.

The opposition attempt is to ensure that the issue remains alive in the three months before Parliament reassembles for the budget session. BJP veteran L K Advani made it clear that NDA would not relent on its demand for JPC probe, saying that the attempt should be to get to the money trail rather than just sack some ministers.

This should lengthen the odds against a smooth budget session of Parliament. Though Left is yet to take a decison on whether to persist with disruptions during the budget session as well, the proximity of West Bengal elections where it faces Congress-Trinamool combine should rule out any concession to the government on the issue.

Advani, flanked by leaders of his party and other allies, told a press conference that the opposition was not clamouring for mid-term poll, which was only used as "scare-mongering" by the ruling front. Taking a dig at Congress, Advani said the opposition had "wrongly believed" for long that it was the Congress president who formed the Cabinet but now it appears that corporate lobbyists decided who should get which ministry.

"We have decided that we did not get justice in Parliament, we will take to the streets... go to the people. We will ask them whether they also wanted that Parliament should have continued to function (despite the 2G scam)," Advani said.

NDA will hold a rally in the Capital on December 22. This will be followed by rallies in Mumbai, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Rohtak, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Ahmedabad and Chennai.