Battle against corruption to continue: Advani

BJP leader L K Advani has said that all NDA MPs will give a declaration during the Parliament session commencing next week stating that they do not possess any illegal wealth or bank accounts outside India.

Addressing a huge rally at Ramlila grounds at the culmination of his 38-day anti-corruption yatra on Sunday, Advani said even though his journey has ended, the battle against corruption would continue.

Accusing the government of lack of political will to fight graft, Advani said the only route to end corruption is through public awakening or a change of government.

Flanked by top BJP and NDA leaders, as well as AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha's emissary M Thambidurai, Advani said, "The fog around India's politics will not go automatically. It will go only by public awakening or by the change of government."

He added, "My Yatra against corruption has ended, but this war will carry on till we conquer corruption."

"Within one week of the start of the Parliament session on November 22, all NDA MPs will give a declaration that they do not possess any bank account or illegal wealth abroad," Advani promised.

The 84-year-old BJP leader said the declaration to be handed over by Lok Sabha MPs to the Speaker and Rajya Sabha MPs to the Chairman will read as "I solemnly state and declare that I do not have directly or indirectly any bank account or assets illegally held outside India."

He also favoured a strong Lokpal bill and said he would ascertain the progress made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the much-awaited measure.

Addressing the rally, Advani said he missed the presence of his party colleague Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was ailing.

He said he had not seen much support during any of his yatras earlier. "I received an overwhelming welcome in various states. But this was the first yatra when Vajpayeeji was not with me," he said.

Earlier, Advani welcomed the court verdict in a graft case against former Telecom Minister Sukhram.

"It is the judiciary which is doing better (than the government) in the task of eradicating corruption," he told a gathering in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of Delhi.