Strongly refuting Congress' allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah were having “links” with Gujarat businessman Mahesh Shah, who recently declared over Rs13,000 crore under the Income Declaration Scheme, the BJP on Thursday said the businessman was being investigated and that the Opposition party was in the habit of making “false charges”.
The party asked Congress to furnish proof for their charges or be ready to face legal action. “We would like to make it clear that the Prime Minister or Amit Shah have no connection whatsoever with businessman Mahesh Shah. Will explore legal options if Congress continues with hit and run tactic,” said Union law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad here addressing a joint Press conference at the BJP headquarters with Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
The BJP leaders rejected Congress’ charge against Amit Shah, who is one of the directors at a Gujarat bank, in which deposits of over Rs500 crore were made, and asserted that the bank has over 200 branches and it will give explanation about the matter.
“Is it Amit Shah’s bankIJ” Prasad asked and hit out at the Congress saying it sees “har maal aapna” and therefore, views all things with the same spectacle.
Earlier, the Congress had accused senior BJP leaders of illegal cash hoarding and money laundering. The Congress asked why Mahesh Shah’s declaration of Rs13,860 crore was not being investigated properly by the Government.
In a reference to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Modi and BJP while addressing party’s 132nd foundation day, he said that the party leaders behave like “children” and “today's Congress does not represent even a grain of its 132 years’ heritage”. He asked whether such “behaviour” by Congress leaders was done at the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Prasad said the Congress was wrong if it thought that the Modi Government could come under pressure of those “supporting the corrupts or corruption”. Actions on corruption cases against the Congress would not go slow by leveling allegations against the Prime Minister and Shah, said the BJP leader, adding “actions against corrupts would be harsher and would not to be stopped”.
“The Congress is the biggest patron of corrupts and corruptions,” he said. The Minister said the Modi Government was taking strongest possible action against those involved in corrupt practices and would not leave even those linked with the BJP and cited a case in Madhya Pradesh.
While condemning the Congress, Prasad also targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over communal violence in Dhulagarh, alleging that “attempts of massacre” are being made and police is not taking action. “This is height of the politics of appeasement,” he said.
Prasad, also the IT Minister, said digital payments have gone up by anywhere between 300 per cent and 1,500 per cent, following demonetisation which, he and Goyal said, have been a “big success” and drawing support of people.
Goyal denied allegations that crores of rupees have been sent to BJP office in poll-bound UP, demanding for proof and warning of legal action.