The NDA Government’s stand in the Supreme Court against black money has come under severe attack from the Opposition parties. The Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and the Trinamool Congress on Saturday attacked the Narendra Modi Government accusing it of taking a ‘blatant U-turn’ on the issue and ‘misleading’ public for poll gains.
The Government, which had promised to bring back black money during its election campaign, on Friday toed the line of the then UPA Government by informing the Supreme Court that it cannot disclose such details given by countries with which India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). Finance Minister Arun Jaitley argued that his Government’s hands were tied by the agreements signed by the UPA Government with Germany in 1995.
Rejecting the claim, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken countered Jaitely’s accusation by saying 14 DTAA, having the same confidentiality clause, were signed during the earlier NDA regime in 1999, which included three amendments. However, no effort made to remove that clause.
“Having achieved the political gains, the Government was now taking an entirely opposite position, vis-à-vis the entire issue… Why did the BJP not think of removing that confidentiality clause when they signed so many agreements during their tenure rather than blaming the UPA,” Maken said. Maken even quoted the Finance department’s website which shows that the agreement was signed and notified in September and November, 1996, respectively, when the Congress was not in power.
“Modi Government came to power on the basis of false propaganda and false promises. The country is looking forward to see how swiftly and early they deliver on all the promises. Modi had said that each citizen will have Rs 15 lakh if black money is brought back. Rajnath Singh had said that black money stashed in foreign banks will be brought back within 100 days. I am demanding my 15 lakh rupees. Neither the money is coming nor names are being disclosed. None of these promises were fulfilled. Never before the issue of black money was used politically as it was done in the last five years by the BJP and its affiliates,” Maken said.
The Congress leaders said that Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi should now launch agitation against the Government on the black money issue. “Now the credibility of Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Kiran Bedi is at stake if they do not agitate on this issue (black money) against the BJP Government,” Maken said.
JD(U) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a Facebook post questioned BJP’s stand: “Whether it was an empty promise to get votes or sirsasan of the Modi Government which has gone back on its promises. Sari batein...Jhoot ke dam par sashan (all talks...Coming to power on the basis of falsehood),” Kumar said.
Accussing the Government for taking a U-turn, the Trinamool Congress threatened to oppose the Government’s stand both inside and outside Parliament. “(It is) shocking. legalistic arguments about black money by Govt are a cop-out. What concrete steps has BJP takenIJ Setting up toothless Comm not enough. Betrayal of anti-UPA corruption sentiment. Shows BJP and Cong r part of same cosy Delhi nexus. In the past 100 days it has become a government of broken promises. They cannot look for excuses and hide behind legal technicalites,” TMC’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’ Brien tweeted.