Malda (WB): Accusing the Congress-led UPA
government of being "neck deep" in corruption, West Bengal
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday claimed that the
Centre knew who had stashed away money in foreign banks.
"Capitalists in India have amassed Rs 70 lakh crore
and some of them have deposited money in Indian banks and in
banks abroad too. Our central government knows who are they,"
Bhattacharjee told a rally in this north Bengal town.
Holding the UPA government responsible for the
"unchecked growth" of corruption and black money in the
country, he said, "In our poor country, we have about 100
world`s richest people here. No idea what they do with such
huge money and one section has stashed away such money in
Swiss banks where bad people keep money."
The Chief Minister`s comments come after Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee today yet again ruled out disclosing
names of those who have stashed away money in tax havens
abroad but disclosed that notices have been sent to 17 of the
18 names of account holders in a bank in Liechtenstein.
Hitting out against the Centre`s "failure" to curb
corruption, Bhattacharjee said Congress leader Ashok Chavan
might soon be jailed.
"The Congress is neck deep in corruption and among
many other corrupt practices known to us, the latest is the
case of corruption against Congress leader and former
Maharashtra Chief Minister (Ashok Chavan) who may be jailed
shortly for his involvement in the Adarsh housing scam," he
said.
Alleging that the "total failure and inept handling"
by the UPA government had brought the country`s economy to the
brink of a "disaster", Bhattacharjee said the government
should open more public distribution system (PDS) shops and
revamp the rationing system.
PTI
