On a campaign mode against the UPA government over corruption,the BJP on Tuesday felt it politically expedient to align itself with social activist Anna Hazares demand for enactment of the Lokpal Bill. The main opposition party quickly supported his campaign and asked the government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. The BJP,which has often come under attack for not acting against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the corruption allegations against him,saw in the much-publicised fast-unto-death of Hazare an opportunity to once again proclaim its concern about the cancer of corruption. As Hazare began his hungerstrike,the BJP said the entire country expects effective action against corruption. Pointing out that this popular wish must be respected,the BJP argued that it was a constitutional obligation on the part of the government. As it is,the party is launching a nation-wide campaign against the UPA over corruption on Wednesday. The BJP wants the Lokpal Bill to become a credible and effective instrument to fight corruption and both political leaders and bureaucrats must be brought under its ambit. It is equally important that action in this regard must not be delayed, partys chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. He pointed out that many good suggestions can be incorporated and government should not make it a prestige issue. Sources in the party said although the BJP was in favour of bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of the proposed Lokpal Bill,it wants issues related to national security and strategic matters kept out of the Lokpals purview.
