Rahul slams Modi for silence on probe into Panama Papers

Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of making 'big promises' on bringing back black money and asked him to explain why he has not instituted a probe into the matter of the Chattisgarh chief minister's son's name featuring in the 'Panama Papers'.

"The Panama Papers have been leaked and many names have been mentioned about black money kept in Panama. It has also mentioned that Chattisgarh chief minister's son Abhishek Singh has account in Panama," Gandhi said while addressing a Congress poll rally in Kamlapur for the second phase of Assam assembly election on April 11.

"Modi makes big promises to you about bringing back black money kept abroad. He should have at least said why no investigation has been ordered into the featuring of the chief minister's son name in them," Gandhi said.

He said he had asked Modi in Parliament why former Indian Premiere League chief Lalit Modi, who had escaped from the country, had not been brought back. "Modiji did not utter one word in response."

"Before (Vijay) Mallya fled the country he met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament House. Lalit Modi, who stole thousands of rupees, is also being kept outside the country," he alleged.

Claiming that the Modi government was not taking action against black money hoarders, Gandhi said, "Recently Jaitley brought a new 'Fair and Lovely scheme' whereby any gangster, goon, drug dealer can make their black money white by just taking it to the government and paying minimal tax on it."

Modi, he said, only made false promises during Lok Sabha elections about bringing back black money. "None of the Indians have received the Rs 15 lakh of that money in their bank accounts as assured by Modi."

The Panama Papers are leaked confidential documents on detailed information about off shore companies listed by a Panamanian corporate service provider showing how wealthy individuals, including public officials, conceal their money from public scrutiny.

Addressing another election rally at Dhamdhama, the Congress Vice President said this time two parties with diametrically opposite ideologies were contesting in the Assam assembly elections.

"The Congress believes in working for peace and development with feelings of brotherhood. On the other side is the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which indulge in divisive politics and talk only about violence, make one Indian fight with another Indian, Hindus with Muslims", Gandhi said.

Claiming in whichever state BJP forms government it creates violence there, Gandhi said, "in peaceful and developed Haryana they made one Jat fight with another Jat within five or six months after coming to power there".

Stating that 15 years ago when BJP's present poll alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad was in power in the state and the saffron party was at the Centre, he said, "there was only sad news, violence and people dying till Congress came and restored the peace".

There was no progress and development in Assam during the AGP rule, he alleged.

"And now they have come to you asking you to vote them back to power.Why vote for them when they can bring no development to Assam"? he asked. "Tell Modi to go back and we only want (Chief Minister) Tarun Gogoi who worked for us. We don't want a suit-boot ka sarkar of only 5-6 industrialist friends of his but a government in which the poor, farmers, workers, the backward people have a place," Gandhi exhorted the voters.

Speaking about the work done by Congress in the state, Rahul said, the "biggest" gift has been bringing peace to the state.

Gandhi said, "In Assam, 15 engineering colleges have come up, four lakh youths have got employment, 60 lakh houses were built under Indira Awaas Yojana, people's income increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 24,000, roads extended from 6,000 km to 24,000 km, three medical colleges set up making available three times more doctors to the state".

The Congress vice president said that if the Congress returns to power, it will continue with this development process and ensure more jobs to the youth of Assam.

"The Congress, if voted back to power, would also ensure employment to two lakh teachers, fill up vacant government jobs, give scholarships to children of poor families for preparing for the civil services, address problems faced by farmers by ensuring that they get proper price and market for their products," Gandhi said.

Image: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi being felicitated with a huge traditional Assamese Japi by party's activists during an election rally ahead of second phase Assam assembly election at Rangiya, Assam. Photograph: PTI