Government not taking steps to curb black money from politics: Swaraj India

The Swaraj India Party on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of not taking any concrete step to curb the black money from politics and accused it of misleading the people with its half-hearted attempts.

"The government is misleading the public with its half-hearted attempts. But the truth is that the ongoing proceedings against black money have been guarded by the political parties," Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan said while addressing the 'kale dhan par hallabol' rally at Janatar Mantar here.

"Like UPA (United Progressive Alliance), the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government has been equally insincere about addressing serious issues of black money.

"Since successive governments and all major political parties have consistently defied Election Commission's plea to follow standard accounting practices, there is no way the government can prevent political parties from functioning as conduits of converting demonetised currency into white money," he alleged.

Hitting out at Modi, Bhushan said: "I had written to Prime Minister in July 2014 suggesting him ways to curb black money, but no action was taken on it."

"Instead of taking any action, existing laws and institutions that could prevent corruption and black money are being weakened and corrupt officials are being placed in key positions in anti-corruption organisations," he said.

"Three years have passed since the Lokpal bill was passed and yet no Lokpal has been appointed," Bhushan alleged.

Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav said that the black money is a ten-headed Ravana and cash is just one of its heads, with real estate, gold, benami property, p-notes and foreign investment accounts being the others.

"By hitting the head of Ravana, you cannot kill it. To kill Ravana, we must strike at his navel and the navel of black money is political corruption."

--IANS

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