BJP ticks off Shiv Sena for cornering PM Modi on black money row

The BJP on Wednesday snubbed the Shiv Sena for training guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the black money issue and said it was strange that the party generating black money every year courtesy the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was coming up with such baseless charges.

"It is a shocking surprise that Shiv Sena, which controls Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation is generating black money every year --out of Rs. 35,000 crore Rs. 6,000-Rs. 7,000 crore is generated out and then they talk about the black money issue," BJP's Kirit Somaiya told ANI.

Lauding the Prime Minister's efforts, Somaiya said the new generation of black money is being dealt harshly.

"Some time has been given to declare black money. In the first phase, we will stop corruption and recover the black money," he added.

Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna yesterday chided Prime Minister Modi for the Centre's delay in unearthing the black money stashed abroad.

Commenting on the Prime Minister's latest 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address, the Saamna article said, "During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the Prime Minister had promised that black money stashed abroad for decades would be brought back. Following this every Indian will be richer by at least Rs 15 lakh. Now, Modi's detractors are asking questions about the fulfilment of the poll assurance."

Pointing out that black money could be found chiefly in politics, the article added that the country's electoral system was rooted in black money.

"Why are captains of industry needed for the Rajya Sabha election? Why do political parties need captains of industry to defeat each other in such elections?" Saamna asked and said the country was awash with black money.

"There is no need to go to Switzerland or Mauritius looking for black money. The Prime Minister should be given some time to fulfil his promise on black money," it added.