<p>Former Union Minister and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani today urged people to vote for that party in the coming elections, which will commit itself to bring back the black money stashed abroad.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Inaugurating the 21st Rashtriya Kavi Sammelan here during the weekend he said, "citizens should demand only one thing from political parties, which ever it is, that they should bring back the black money lying in Swiss banks."<br /><br />This commitment should be included in their manifesto and nothing else, he said.<br /><br />Citing lack of political will on the part of the Centre to act on the black money issue, the former BJP member said, "this is the money robbed from the poor of the country by big industrialists and politicians but the government has turned a blind eye to it."<br /><br />The name of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi too figures in the list of influential people allegedly holding account in Swiss banks, but nobody is ready to take any step forward, he alleged.<br /><br />Later talking to newsmen, Jethmalani said, he was highly disappointed with the AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal. "We had high hopes that they will perform but they have failed," he said.<br /><br />He said that he was among the first who gave donation to the party.<br /><br />On AAP's decision to contest LS polls, the 90-year-old politician said, "I am disappointed with the party and nothing more."<br /><br />He said he was happy pursuing other things such as teaching rather than being a lawyer or a politician.<br /><br />Jethmalani was honoured with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" on the occasion where he was presented with a memento and a shawl at the hands of chief guests Chintaman Wanga, Rajan Vichare and CIDCO Chairman Pramod Hindurao, besides BJP National Council Member Om Prakash Sharma.<br /><br />Industrialist Ajitab Bachchan, Executive Editor of 'Doupahar ka Saamna' Prem Shukla and President of Thane District Courts Bar Association Yeshwant Mhaskar were the guests of honour at the event.<br /><br />23-year-old Krishna Patil of Maharashtra who scaled everest at the age of 19 was awarded the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Gourav Puraskar while prominent literary figure Suryaban Gupta was honoured with Dr Harivanshrai Bacchan Sahitya Ratna Puraskar. Lt. Abhay Parikh was given the Maharana Pratap Shourya Puraskar (posthumously).<br /><br />The prominent poets who gave their recitals included Hariom Pawar (Meerut); Pradeep Choubey (Gwalior); Surendra Dubey (Raipur); Vinu Mahendra ( Mumbai); Dileep Sharma (Pune); and Anamika Jain Ambar(Meerut). The Kavi Sammelan was compered by Sashikant Yadav (Devas, MP). </p>
<p>Former Union Minister and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani today urged people to vote for that party in the coming elections, which will commit itself to bring back the black money stashed abroad.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Inaugurating the 21st Rashtriya Kavi Sammelan here during the weekend he said, "citizens should demand only one thing from political parties, which ever it is, that they should bring back the black money lying in Swiss banks."<br /><br />This commitment should be included in their manifesto and nothing else, he said.<br /><br />Citing lack of political will on the part of the Centre to act on the black money issue, the former BJP member said, "this is the money robbed from the poor of the country by big industrialists and politicians but the government has turned a blind eye to it."<br /><br />The name of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi too figures in the list of influential people allegedly holding account in Swiss banks, but nobody is ready to take any step forward, he alleged.<br /><br />Later talking to newsmen, Jethmalani said, he was highly disappointed with the AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal. "We had high hopes that they will perform but they have failed," he said.<br /><br />He said that he was among the first who gave donation to the party.<br /><br />On AAP's decision to contest LS polls, the 90-year-old politician said, "I am disappointed with the party and nothing more."<br /><br />He said he was happy pursuing other things such as teaching rather than being a lawyer or a politician.<br /><br />Jethmalani was honoured with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" on the occasion where he was presented with a memento and a shawl at the hands of chief guests Chintaman Wanga, Rajan Vichare and CIDCO Chairman Pramod Hindurao, besides BJP National Council Member Om Prakash Sharma.<br /><br />Industrialist Ajitab Bachchan, Executive Editor of 'Doupahar ka Saamna' Prem Shukla and President of Thane District Courts Bar Association Yeshwant Mhaskar were the guests of honour at the event.<br /><br />23-year-old Krishna Patil of Maharashtra who scaled everest at the age of 19 was awarded the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Gourav Puraskar while prominent literary figure Suryaban Gupta was honoured with Dr Harivanshrai Bacchan Sahitya Ratna Puraskar. Lt. Abhay Parikh was given the Maharana Pratap Shourya Puraskar (posthumously).<br /><br />The prominent poets who gave their recitals included Hariom Pawar (Meerut); Pradeep Choubey (Gwalior); Surendra Dubey (Raipur); Vinu Mahendra ( Mumbai); Dileep Sharma (Pune); and Anamika Jain Ambar(Meerut). The Kavi Sammelan was compered by Sashikant Yadav (Devas, MP). </p>