Shimla, Oct 27 (IANS): Defending party president Nitin Gadkari against graft charges, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj Saturday said he was ?innocent? and asked government to go ahead with a probe.

?On the very first day he said the allegations should be probed, that itself proves he is innocent,? she said on the sidelines of an election rally at Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh.

?Knowing that the investigation agencies work under the influence of government and are government agencies, he had the courage to offer himself for probe. Government should investigate the allegations,? said Sushma Swaraj, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.

The charges against Gadkari include improper business dealings as chairman of the Purti Group and land grab.

The BJP core group in a meeting in Delhi Friday evening had decided to support Gadkari.

"The party is unanimous in backing him," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar had said after the meeting ended.

The BJP president is also scheduled to campaign in poll bound Himachal Pradesh.