Give Padma awards to BJP’s whistleblowers: Naidu

BJP MPs who exposed cash-for-vote scam,should be given Padma awards,Venkaiah Naidu said.

BJP leaders and MPs,who exposed the alleged cash-for-vote scam in 2008,should be given Padma awards,former party chief M Venkaiah Naidu said.

“The Delhi Police should drop the case against Faggan Singh,Mahavir Singh,Ashok Argal and Sudheendra Kulkarni who worked as whistleblowers to expose the fraud and they should be honoured,” he told a press conference here.

The jailed whistleblowers should be released and decorated with Padma awards because they worked in the interest of democracy,Naidu said.

Story continues below this ad

In July 2008,BJP MPs Faggan,Mahavir and Argal showed bundles of cash in the Lok Sabha which,they alleged,had been offered to them to vote in favour of the UPA government.

Naidu flayed the Congress for not taking action against its own leaders,including Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit,despite recommendation against them (by the CAG and the Lokayukta).

He alleged the Congress was only targeting those who pointed fingers towards the government or raised voice against corruption in the administration.

“It is the Congress’s expertise to misuse Police,IB,ED and government machinery in its own interests. The Congress targets those who point fingers towards it. Take examples of Baba Ramdev,Anna Hazare,Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi.

Story continues below this ad

“The small issue of Team Anna’s member Kiran Bedi was highlighted as a big one by the Congress. But reports so far suggest she did nothing for personal gain,” the BJP leader said.