Addressing his supporters here, Gadkari said that he has no connections with Ajay Sancheti or Sharad Pawar.

"I have no business links with Ajay Sancheti or Sharad Pawar. Kejriwal's allegation that I grabbed farmers' land is false. Farmers' land that I am accused of usurping is on the dais with me. I worked for the welfare of Vidharba farmers. I am a social entrepreneur," said Gadkari.

"Media tried to defame me over accidental deaths. The Congress is colluding with media houses to defame me. The cops, crime branch or CID have found nothing against me or BJP. They tried to drag my name even in Adarsh scam. Efforts are on to defame me ever since I became BJP President. My conduct has been upright, I have never indulged in any kind of wrongdoing," he added.

Asserting that he was ready to face any inquiry, Gadkari also hit out at the ruling Congress Party and asked them to initiate a probe against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

"I am ready for probe against all allegations; let Robert Vadra also face a probe. Why is Robert Vadra not ready for an inquiry like me? Why the Congress is not investigating Robert Vadra? I will fight a legal battle and come out clean," he said.

Gadkari, who displayed a massive show of strength here, earlier received a rousing welcome on his arrival at the Mumbai Airport.

Gadkari had earlier on Tuesday skipped meeting with Karnataka party leaders as former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa remained firm on quitting the party ahead of next year's assembly polls.

Moreover, he also did not go to poll-bound Himachal Pradesh for a second round of campaigning.

The BJP President, who is facing allegations of dubious funding in companies controlled by him, has threatened to file civil and criminal cases against some media houses for ''defaming'' him and alleged that they were playing into the hands of the Congress.Kejriwal had earlier this month accused Gadkari of having a huge business empire in Maharashtra, and alleged that the former and NCP leader Ajit Pawar were hand-in-glove with each other in the irrigation scam.

Kejriwal accused Gadkari of corruption and claimed that his businesses are flourishing at the cost of farmers.

"Nitin Gadkari has a huge business empire in Maharashtra. We want to know if his interests as a businessman are clashing with that of the farmers. Gadkari and Ajit Pawar are working in tandem. Gadkari's business interests clash with Vidharba farmers," Kejriwal told mediapersons at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.

Kejriwal further said that Gadkari's business interest clashed with Vidharba farmers. "100 hectares of farmers land given to Gadkari's Purti Power and Sugar Industries Ltd. Gadkari placed business interests over farmers' well being. Gadkari's business interests also led to farmers' suicides. The land was snatched from farmers and given to Gadkari," said Kejriwal

"Maharashtra irrigation scam is worth Rs. 70 crores. Rs. 70 crores was spent, but nothing was spent on farmers. There is NCP-BJP nexus in irrigation scam in Maharashtra. Gadkari has five power and three sugar firms in Maharashtra," he added.

HIGHLIGHTS

* I have no business links or partnership with Sharad Pawar and Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti, says BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.

* Congress indulging in smear campaign against me. I'm ready for a probe and let Robert Vadra also face probe: BJP President

* The charge that I indulged in corruption when I was PWD minister in Maharashtra is totally baseless: Gadkari.

* Land I was accused of grabbing is still with Maharashtra Government, says Gadkari.

* Government probed Adarsh and irrigation scams but found nothing against me, says Gadkari.

Manikrao Thakre to send legal notice to Gadkari

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre today said he will send a legal notice to BJP chief Nitin Gadkari for making "baseless allegations" against him of non-payment of Rs 23 lakh to sugarcane growers.

At a press conference, Thakre said due to the spate of allegations against Gadkari, the BJP leader is disturbed and has been levelling counter charges to divert attention and threatening the media for exposing him.

"I do not owe any money to sugarcane growers. This could be be a transaction between Gadkari's Purti group and the Yavatmal sugar co-operative factory. Transportation charges are involved because sugarcane from one factory is taken to another factory for crushing. But, I am not the chairman of the Yavatmal sugar factory," he said.

Lashing out at Gadkari, Thakre said, "The BJP national president says he works for the benefit of Vidarbha farmers.

He is a member of the legislative council. How many times has he attended its proceedings and highlighted farmers' issues in the last five years".

Thakre alleged that Gadkari himself had duped farmers who had taken loans worth Rs 25 lakh from the Chandrapur District Co-operative Bank.

"In 2004-05, Purti Sugar Co-operative had entered into a deal with Satyam Engineering Consultants to set up a lift irrigation project in Usegaon village of Chandrapur district.

Farmers who trusted the deal because of Gadkari's involvement kept their land as collateral to get bank guarantee for the loan. However, Satyam did not do any work and backed out of the project, leaving farmers in the lurch," he said.