Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh courted another controversy on Monday by saying that BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi speaking about lokayukta was like self-styled godman Asaram Bapu talking about virginity. His jibe at Modi invited a strong criticism from the BJP, which termed the analogy drawn by the Congress leader as ‘shameful’.
Addressing an election rally in Dehradun on Sunday, Modi had questioned why the the Congress, which is pushing the lokpal Bill, was not implementing lokayukta, brought in by the previous BJP Government headed by BC Khanduri in Uttarakhand.
Ramesh took exception to Modi’s barbs saying that Modi, who did not appoint the lokayukta for 10 years in his State, has no right to speak on the issue of the anti-graft legislation.
“A guy who did not appoint a lokayukta for 10 years is hardly the person to speak about lokayukta. For 10 years he did not appoint a lokayukta and he is giving updesh (sermon) on lokayukta. This is like Asaram talking about virginity,” Ramesh told reporters.
Asaram, who allegedly sexually assaulted a minor, is in judicial custody in Jodhpur jail since his arrest in September. Ramesh termed Uttarakhand’s lokayukta Act, as prepared by the previous BJP Government, a ‘joke’ and said that “there was some problem” with the legislation. He, however, did not elaborate.
Though given presidential ascent after a two-year wait in September this year, the Act is yet to be implemented in Uttarakhand as Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna wants to bring it into force only after certain amendments.
The BJP hit back at Ramesh saying his analogy was reprehensible. “We condemn Jairam Ramesh’s dirty remark on Modi. It is shameful,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.