BJP leader Naidu slams Centre over increasing corruption

NEW DELHI - Criticizing the Congress-led UPA Government’s inability to curb increasing corruption, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu, said people are tired of facing it and immediate steps were needed to check it.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Naidu said: “After the UPA-II came to power, corruption has increased, whether it be governmental, ministerial or departmental. Other than that, this government has also been a host to several scams, starting from rice export to the Commonwealth Games to the Adarsh building scam.”

He also questioned the UPA Government and the Prime Minister on its inaction vis-a-vis unaccounted for Indian money stashed away in foreign banks, particularly Swiss banks, as the government had promised to prioritize the matter during the 2009 elections.

“What has the Government of India done to unearth black money, the BJP would like to know, from the foreign banks. It is Indian money, and, no less than the Prime Minister, for a person like the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had made a statement that within hundred days of coming to power, he will move forward in the matter of Indian money stashed in the Swiss banks. What has been done on that?” asked Naidu.

Naidu also insisted that the government should disclose the names of those involved in stashing away black money in Swiss banks.

Criticizing government control of investigative bodies in India, Naidu demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be given a free hand to probe illegal activities in the country.

He further insisted that the CBI should be accountable only to Parliament.

Pointing out that the Congress has always wanted cooperation from all quarters to fight corruption, Naidu said: “Cooperation depends on operation, if the government operates properly, the opposition would surely cooperate with them.”

Talking about the forth coming polls in states, he said: “It’s high time that the issue of infiltration, which has already become a national issue now be resolved.

He further said, “In Assam, there has been an about 10 per cent growth in the number of voters with Dhekiajuli having the highest increase of 22.5 per cent.”

“But the situation in Assam would also change. If the BJP were to change the situation, it would incorporate an effective method of tackling the Bangladeshi infiltration problem that is detect, delete and deport the immigrants as, otherwise, it would continue to cripple the economy of the state,” he added. (ANI)