Bank details of MP/MLAs should be probed by independent committee: Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party today termed as "farce" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction to BJP lawmakers to submit details of bank transactions made between November 8 and December 31 to Amit Shah, even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal he gave him a "proposal" to probe bank details of MP/MLAs of all parties by an independent committee.

Alleging that the BJP leaders knew about demonetisation much before Modi announced the move on November 8, Kejriwal said bank details, spanning over five years, across all party MP/MLAs should be probed by a committee of eminent people. He said his party lawmakers were willing to face such a probe.

In a video posted on social networking site, Kejriwal claimed that vast tracts of land were bought by the BJP leaders, some 3-4 months prior to the demonetisation decision and this should also be investigated.

"Accounts of your friends, whose bank loans amounting Rs 1 lakh crore you have waived off and those whose bank loans amounting Rs 8 lakh crore you are going to waive off should also be probed. Also check bank accounts of companies for whom you advertise," Kejriwal said.

Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Ashutosh also questioned Shah's authority in this regard, saying the details should rather be given to the Income Tax department.

He said that Modi's direction to BJP MPs and MLAs to submit their bank account statements of transaction to Shah was "another drama" meant to "hoodwink" the public, who are in "distress" due to demonetisation.

He also dared the BJP to disclose the source of "80 per cent of its funding", which he claimed was unknown.

"He (Modi) is a very good event manager. It is a farce. What authority does Amit Shah hold? IT department should be given the details. The disclosures should be made public," Ashutosh said.

The AAP's national convener, who has been a strong critic of demonetisation move, also claimed that the government has brought down the penalty on those with black money.

"At first, the government announced that there would be 30 per cent tax and 200 per cent penalty. Now under the new scheme, there would be 30 per cent tax and 10 per cent penalty and there would be 33 per cent surcharge, which comes to around 10 per cent," he said.