Oppn accuses Modi of misleading nation on black money issue

A united Opposition on Wednesday threw punches at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “misleading” the nation on the issue of bringing back black money stashed in tax havens abroad and dsemanded an apology.

Quoting from Modi’s election campaign speeches, Opposition leaders wanted to know when the NDA government would start depositing Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts of the poor as promised by the BJP.

Initiating a short-duration discussion in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wondered what prompted Modi and the BJP to make “tall promises” during the election campaign which they very well knew will not be fulfilled.

Kharge said the NDA government was giving the same reasons given by the UPA for not disclosing the names of alleged black money hoarders. He said Modi government has told the Supreme Court that “it is unable to disclose the said names since it was bound by certain Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement”.

“You were also in government for six years. You know the difficulties in governance and yet you resorted to false propaganda during elections. Does country benefit by inciting people’s sentiments? You should speak with balance in public,” he said.

Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Congress member M Veerappa Moily demanded an apology from Modi for misguiding the nation by making untrue statements on bringing back black money. “Modiji had promised to bring back black money within 100 days of assuming office. Today, it is 180 days, that is, 80 days more than announced. Have they brought back one dollar from any person,” Bandyopadhyay said.