Black money: Narendra Modi joins LK Advani’s cry

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called tax evaders as “thief company” and dared the ruling Congress to bring back black money stashed abroad if it really had the will to do so.

Modi said it seemed the Congress was not interested in recovering illegal wealth.

“Advaniji is only seeking repatriation of black money, but only the Congress is getting the current. Why does the Congress not want to bring back black money? Is it because it belongs to them,” the BJP leader asked.

“Corruption has been the identity of Congress since the times of Jawaharlal Nehru. Unfortunately, people were unable to raise voice against corruption earlier,” Modi said.

Against the backdrop of agitations by Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, he said anyone who raises voice against corruption is labeled as having links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “Those who don’t want to bring back this illegal wealth are the people to whom this wealth belongs,” he said, stepping up his attack against Congress which has not disclosed the names of money-stashers.

The BJP has formally asked the Government to declare the names of these account holders but in vain.

Modi described black money owners as “thief company” and called upon the Government to expose them.

“Yeh jo chor company hai, inko nanga karna chahiye (this band of thieves should be exposed),” Modi said, sharing the stage with LK Advani whose Jana Chetna Yatra entered Gujarat on Sunday. 

He went on to question Congress-led UPA’s intentions behind its failure to recover black money from foreign banks. Kabhi lagta hai dal mein kuchh kala hai. Ab lagta hai puri dal hi kaali hai (At times it seems there’s something wrong in the system and at others it seems the entire system is wrong.)” Modi said.

Later, Advani said, “Not just the prime minister or Sonia Gandhi, the corruption episodes have damaged the entire country’s reputation. “ He said he held Manmohan Singh in high esteem before he became prime minister but the cash-for-vote scam dented his image.

Advani also said it was unfortunate that instead of the Manmohan Singh, it was Sonia who had the last word in the UPA government’s functioning.  He also attacked the UPA chairperson for her silence on corruption and black money.