Facing heat,Gadkari shuts out media,attacks Cong on graft

Days after he offered himself for probe by any government agency in connection with allegations against his firm,beleaguered BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Saturday reached the poll-bound Himachal Pradesh to address two rallies,but preferred to shut out the media and its queries.

Days after he offered himself for probe by any government agency in connection with allegations against his firm,beleaguered BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Saturday reached the poll-bound Himachal Pradesh to address two rallies,but preferred to shut out the media and its queries.

The BJP,which had a day ago expressed its unanimous support to his continuance in office,did not arrange any meeting of Gadkari with the press. Some journalists who managed to reach near the podiums where he was sitting or near his helicopter found their queries stonewalled by a mum Gadkari.

Party General Secretary JP Nadda,who had earlier assured that said that Gadkari will meet media friends,later said that the party chief will address the press on October 30 during his next visit to Shimla.

Earlier in the day,Gadkari arrived at Jubbarhatti airport,22 km from Shimla,and flew to Rekong Peo in tribal Kinnaur district to address a rally. From there,he flew to Nerva,130 km from the state capital.

Sources in the party said that the rally sites,located in rough hilly terrain and not easily accessible by road,were chosen to shield Gadkari from the media.

We had done publicity for Sushmaji. Every banner here has her photograph. She could have been much more effective here compared to Gadkari, a local BJP leader said.

Meanwhile,addressing the rally at Nerva,Gadkari attacked the Congress saying the money siphoned off through carious scams by the Congress led UPA government could have been utilised for development and eradicating poverty and unemployment.

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I have made a rough calculation about loss caused to the nation due to the 2G scam,Commonwealth Games scam and Coal-gate. It comes to around Rs 25,38,000 lakh crore. Imagine the kind of development,which the country could have witnessed had this amount been utilised on development,building new roads and generating employment, Gadkari said.

While attacking the Congress over cap on subsidised LPG cylinder and hike in petrol and diesel prices,the BJP chief also offered a new solution.

India has the potential to produce bio-diesel in every part of the country,including in Himachal. Technology and resources are available. This can generate jobs and help cut on the countrys oil import bill. If anyone wants to learn,I can show how it can done using local resources, Gadkari offered.

He also unfolded BJPs agenda in the hill state and claimed that the development and initiatives taken by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal will weigh strong in helping the party retain power in November 4 elections.

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