Not protecting corrupt leaders: BJP

Speaking on the backdrop of the growing controversy over the inclusion of expelled Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Babu Singh Kushwaha and Badshah Singh in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition on Friday defended its stand and said that they were not trying to protect corrupt leaders.

"We are not trying to protect the corrupt. Instead we are trying to uplift the backwards in Uttar Pradesh," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman told media.

She said that joining the BJP will not give ´immunity´ to the corrupt leaders from facing legal actions.

"Law will take its own course," she said.

Speaking on the differences within the BJP over the addition of the BSP leaders, Sitaraman said: "There is no rift between party and from January 9 onward she (Uma Bharti) will campaign in rally."

Earlier, it was reported that BJP leader Uma Bharati had warned that she will stop campaigning for the party in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, allegedly in protest over the induction of the new members in the party.

However when asked by the media to clarify her stand, Bharti said: "Whatever I need to say about the party I will say at the party forum. I will not make any comment in the media."

On the other hand, BJP leader Maneka Gandhi on Friday slammed their party for including leaders like Babu Singh Kushwaha and Badshah Singh.

"It was a wrong step taken by BJP to include expelled ministers of BSP like Kushwaha," Gandhi told reporters.

"I do not think that the party leadership was consulted before the move was taken," she said.

The BJP has already drawn a lot of criticism from the opposition for including former BSP leaders like Kushwaha and Badshah Singh in their party earlier this week.

Kushwaha had to resign from the Mayawati cabinet in April last year over the allegations. He was later expelled from the party.