Patna: Union minister Radha Mohan Singh today mentioned comparative efforts of Narendra Modi government and UPA rule on black money issue and appealed to political parties to speak with “gravity” after seriously pondering over the matter.
“Black money issue has today become an important issue in the country. Leaders of different political parties are expressing their opinion on the subject. In my view a leader shall speak with gravity on the matter after pondering over comparative efforts of NDA and UPA governments on the topic,” Singh said in a statement here.
The Union Agriculture minister's statement seems aimed at RJD chief Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar who have been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on black money issue.
Singh, MP from Motihari, said in 2011 Supreme Court had ordered for constitution of SIT (Special Investigation Team) which UPA (in which Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar are important partners today) had vehemently opposed. In November 2013, Congress-led UPA had filed a petition in the SC requesting permission to make some changes in the Apex Court order on setting up SIT which the court had disallowed, he said.
In May 2014, in its last days UPA had submitted a review petition in the SC requesting quashing of its order on SIT constitution, Singh said.
The UPA deliberately created delay in the SC on the issue and in the meantime it pardoned over 100 account holders in foreign banks where black money was stashed away, the minister said and added the Apex Court had expressed its annoyance over the stance.
On the contrary, the Narendra Modi government in its very first Cabinet meeting approved the proposal to constitute SIT on black money, Singh said.
SIT Chairman M B Shah has appreciated the government for handing over list of account holders prepared on the basis of information from France and Germany, he said.
The SIT chief has said it was clear from government's efforts that it did not want to protect anybody, Singh said hailing Union government on black money issue.
