Be careful while appointing secretaries: Advani tells BJP MPs

“Advani told the party MPs that they should not come under such influence. They should not sign any documents without verifying and should also be careful in appointing personal secretaries. Last time we suffered due to this,” Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters in New Delhi.

Several BJP leaders in the last Lok Sabha were caught on camera taking money in the cash-for-query scam,causing much embarrassment to the party.

During the meeting,senior BJP MP Arun Shourie shared his views on the Union Budget. He said the Finance Minister had indulged in statistical jugglery during his presentation.

“He pointed out that the Fringe Benefit Tax has not been abolished but has been passed on from the employer to the employee. Now the beneficiary will pay the tax,” Swaraj said.

Shourie also pointed out that it was wrongly claimed that allocation under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) was increased by 144 per cent.

“Since it is being measured from Budget Estimates and not Revised Estimates,it appears big,” Swaraj,quoting Shourie said.

Swaraj reiterated her argument that the Finance Minister had indulged in procrastination. “There is no roadmap in the Budget,” she said,adding,the minister had stated he would take steps if certain conditions were fulfilled.

Advani told his parliamentary party that it was not just BJP,as an opposition party,which was not impressed with the Budget.

“Advani said some of the Congressmen had confided in him that they too were unhappy with the Budget,” Swaraj said.