BJP leaders bought property before demonetisation: Cong

Mounting a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress today said leakage of demonetisation decision had helped BJP leaders buy property by converting their black money through various means a few months before it was announced.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Prime Minister of "selective leakage" of demonetisation move to his own partymen, who converted their black money through property and other avenues.
"This shows who are the real supporters of black money," he told reporters outside Parliament House.
Kharge said democracy functions through discussion and asked the Prime Minister to participate in the debate in Parliament on the issue if he believed in democratic values.

"If the Prime Minister believes in democracy, he should come to Parliament and participate in the debate and answer the concerns raised by the opposition on the demonetisation issue.
"You think you are a 'samrat' (king) and the country runs on the diktat of the 'samrat'. Instead of speaking outside, you should come to Parliament and speak," he said.

On the Prime Minister not speaking inside Parliament, he said, "If he speaks like this, he knows he could face privilege and contempt."
Terming demonetisation as the "biggest scam", Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also accused Modi of leaking the demonetisation move to top BJP leaders, alleging they bought land using their black money.

The party released a list of some BJP leaders who allegedly bought 8 land parcels worth Rs 3.41 crore in Bihar in the run up to the November 8 demonetisation move.
Surjewala, flanked by Congress spokespersons Rajiv Gowda and Sushmita Dev, alleged that post expose of deposit of money in bank accounts of BJP leaders just before the demonetisation, "documents now prove" that BJP leaders bought the land.
"Modiji's mask of fighting black money is off. Stop mocking the people of India and Parliament and look in the mirror. Make all BJP accounts public and tell the details of all property purchased by BJP leaders over the last one year and the truth of demonetisation scam will be out," he said.

Kharge said his party was ready to offer any kind of help
to curb black money in the country, but objected to the Prime Minister dubbing its leaders as ones standing in support of the menace for raising issues concerning public harassment.
"Whatever help you need from us, we will provide for eradicating black money. But, you are playing politics under its garb and are protecting your people. You have given an opportunity to your own people to convert their black money into white through selective leakage.
"We will carry on our tirade against it and that is why we want a discussion in Parliament on this. If we want a discussion on black money, you are dubbing us as those in support of black money," he said.

Kharge also said that people are dying for their own money and this is the situation "we want to discuss in the House with the Prime Minister".
"We requested the Speaker that the Prime Minister must raise the issues he is talking about outside, in the House," he said.
Earlier, hitting out at those accusing the government of not being prepared for demonetisation, Modi said they are actually pained that they themselves did not get time to make any preparation.
Rajiv Gowda later said Modi had today morning made a mocking attack on the opposition, saying if they had 72 hours, they would have made arrangements.

"If anyone had that information and planned to convert black money, it is the BJP," he said.
Sushmita Dev said, "We hope that the Prime Minister will give explanation in Parliament about these land deals. These land deals, not just in Bihar, but all over India, shows that BJP is the corrupt party, which deals in black money."
She said this was done to park BJP's black money in real estate. "These land deals, all of which took place shortly before November 8 decision flies in the face of Modi ji's statement of wanting to fight black money," she said.

"Modi ji is aware black money is not stashed away in the cupboards of the common man. Today, the revelation made by a BJP member of the Bihar Assembly has proved that in the 6 per cent black money, BJP has a share," Dev said.