'Cong should come clean on corruption charges under UPA rule'

BJP national spokesperson Nalin Satyakam Kohli today asked former Finance minister P Chidambaram to come clean on corruption charges during the UPA rule and the black money stashed over the years since Independence.
"It is really painful to see that people like Chidambaram are enquiring about the cure of the disease called black money. They should first answer about the corruption and scams that have happened during the 10 years of UPA rule.
"Why was he (Chidambaram) silent then? Why did the Congress, which ruled for most of the period since Independence, allow stashing of black money?," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.

Kohli's comment comes in the backdrop of Chidambaram's statement that hoarders have laundered their money, while the poor and the middle class have been left 'high and dry' due to demonetisation.
The positive effects of demonetisation on Indian economy can only be gauged after the four quarters, Kohli told a seminar.
"If you really want to compare whether demonetisation is good or bad, whether it had a good impact on the country's economy, it can only be gauged after the next four quarters. The accusations that it will have a bad impact and GDP will slow down is nothing but assumption of idle brains," he said.

Asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election promise to bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakhs in every countryman's account, Kohli said, "Those who say this are perpetrating a lie. The PM's words were clear -he never gave a 100 day limit. The limit was given by former prime minister Manmohan Singh."

"Has the Modi government not started acting against black money? From setting up an SIT, from demonetisation to linking up with foreign banks in Switzerland. Prime Minister Modi himself had said that he will go to the masses with his report card before 2019 polls.

"So those who are asking for a report card today - what report card had they placed in the last 50 years?" he asked.
The country's economy is in a better position and only a strengthened economy can fulfil those promises, Kohli added.
On the verbal attack by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against Modi, he said, "In a democracy like India, all constitutional offices should give equal respect to each other, be it CM's office or PM's office. If this decorum is not followed, you are disrespecting a constitutional office.