NDA going soft on Mallya, says Congress

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Sunday asked the Centre to act immediately to get industrialist Vijay Mallya deported and punish him under Indian laws for defaulting on bank loans.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, AICC Communication Cell incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the NDA government of soft-pedalling on the Mallya issue.

“Several questions have remained unanswered. There are charges that the Union Government tipped off Mallya on March 2 so that he could flee the country. There are also accusations that huge financial transactions are still taking place in firms owned by Mallya,” Surjewala said.

He wondered why the Centre was hesitating to issue a red corner Interpol notice against Mallya.

He said Mallya should be brought back to the country, the Rs 9,091 crore dues recovered and punished under Indian laws.

Uttarakhand forest fire
Surjewala said the Centre should declare Uttarakhand a “fire hit” state and treat the forest fire there as a national disaster.

He accused the Centre of playing politics in Uttarakhand and creating political instability by imposing President’s rule. “At least, let steps be taken to douse the raging forest fire which has already created serious environmental damage,” he said.