BJP says no 'clean chit' to Sonia Gandhi on black money issue

Notwithstanding senior BJP leader LK Advani's regret letter to Sonia Gandhi, his party today said the Congress president or her late husband Rajiv Gandhi had not been given a "clean chit" on the issue of black money.
"It is not a clean chit. Investigations into black money parked abroad are still on and one should wait for the process to end," BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde told reporters.

He was asked whether Advani's letter meant the party has cleared Gandhi's name in the black money issue.
In his brief letter to Gandhi, Advani had said "I am happy that you have denied the reports relating to you and your family alluded to in the Task Force's Report on Black Money.
"If these had been denied earlier the Task Force would have taken your denial into account. Even so, I deeply regret the distress caused to you."
The BJP leader expressed regret after Gandhi sent him a terse letter, saying she did not expect a leader of his "stature" to level such allegations.
Meanwhile, NDA convenor Sharad Yadav defended Advani's letter to Gandhi.
"The allegations were never refuted. But when she refuted the charge, Advani accepted it... we are in politics and fight for what is right," said Yadav, the chief of JD(U) which is a key ally of the BJP.
He said the issue of black money stashed abroad would be taken up during the Budget session by the NDA. "We have been raising this issue and continue to do so... it is a big issue," he said. 

DNA India

Letter sent to Smt. Sonia Gandhi by Shri L.K. Advani on Black Money

Dear Smt. Sonia ji,                                                                         Dated: February 16, 2011

On my return from Kolkatta last night I found your letter dated 15 February awaiting me.

I am happy that you have categorically denied the reports alluded to in the Task Force’s report on Black Money.  If these had been denied earlier, I am sure the Task Force would have factored in, the denial in its report.  Even so, I deeply regret the distress caused to you.


With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

( L.K. ADVANI )

Smt. Sonia Gandhi,
Chairperson, U.P.A.,
10, Janpath,
NEW DELHI – 110011.

BJP show of strength in Bengal targets PM, CPM

The BJP leadership has once again trained its guns on the Congress high command and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Lambasting the UPA for giving the country the ‘grandmother’ of all scams, party president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader LK Advani said the Congress had allowed its leaders to plunder the nation and stash the loot away in foreign banks.
Launching a frontal attack, Gadkari said, “While farmers were committing suicide and youths were roaming jobless, the likes of A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi were giving shape to the Commonwealth Games and 2G scandals, devouring lakhs of crores.” Without dropping any name, he wondered “who their godfather and godmother were”.
It is evident that the BJP is taking the West Bengal election seriously. Gadkari noted how while BJP-ruled States were recording phenomenal growth, those ruled by the Congress and Left were mired in corruption. He added that this graft was the root cause of under-development. 
The BJP chief again demanded to know “why the Centre is not giving the names of those who have kept lakhs of crores of black money in foreign banks.”
Speaking out against Singh’s inherent weakness in dealing with crucial affairs, Advani reiterated that he had seen several Prime Ministers but no one as weak as the present one. “I was told that the Prime Minister was hurt because I called him a weak person. He may be a good person but he is the weakest Prime Minister because he could not stop corruption taking place in front of his eyes” he added. 
Advani pointed out that it was during Singh’s regime that a Prime Minister had to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court to explain his conduct.
Congratulating West Bengal party president Rahul Sinha for his “good work” in bringing the party alive, BJP MP and party in-charge of the State Chandan Mitra said, “The BJP has come to Bengal not to leave halfway. We have come to the State with our eyes set on the Writers’ Buildings.” 
The leaders were speaking at a huge rally in Kolkata held at the completion of a 15-day Navjagran Yatra that started from Cooch Behar in North Bengal on January 30. Mitra recalled how thousands had welcomed the party rath in various districts during the yatra.
“While the CPI(M) has unleashed a reign of oppression and terror and rendered the State poor, by inviting the Maoists to Bengal, the Trinamool claims itself to be an alternative but is the other side of the same coin,” Mitra said. 
Earlier, on the sidelines of the BJP national office bearers’ meeting, Mitra said the party would “contest from all seats in Bengal”, adding that “both the CPI(M) and Trinamool were the two sides of the same coin.”
The State was suffering from lack of growth on all sides - from health and education to industry and employment - he said, adding that Trinamool was equally corrupt and tyrannical. “The situation is such that the people have to choose between the devil and the deep sea,” said Mitra, adding that it was at this juncture that the BJP was projecting itself as a third alternative.
The BJP rally, the biggest in recent times in Bengal, was attended by a galaxy of leaders, including the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Linking corruption with continued price rise, former party president Rajnath Singh said, “While the Congress had repeatedly given the nation corrupt regimes, the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress have helped it in its corrupt acts at different times.” 
“The Congress has stashed away lakhs of crores in foreign banks and the Trinamool and the Left have propped it at the Centre at different times,” he noted. 
Singh added that the BJP would bring all the black money back to India and “earmark between Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore for each village for its development.” 
The Pioneer

Advani predicts end of Marxist rule in Bengal

PTI | 09:02 PM,Feb 15,2011

The participation of BJP's top brass at the rally is also seen as an attempt to rejuvenate the West Bengal unit of the party which is relatively weak in strength in comparison to two major Opposition parties-- Trinamool Congress and Congress. He said it was regrettable that though China's ruling communist party wanted to strengthen party-to-party ties with the BJP, the CPI(M) in India thought it was "untouchable".

"If there is necessity to change the government at the Centre for its involvement in many corruption scandals and failure to check prise rise, the Left Front government in West Bengal too has to go for destroying Bengal," the veteran leader said. "Kolkata once was the industrial capital of India. But see what has Bengal come to now! Industries are being closed down one after another.

"If there is the rise of Naxalism in West Bengal, no other party but the CPI(M) and the CPI are responsible," former BJP president Rajnath Singh said. He alleged that in 2001 Assembly election in West Bengal, the Left had taken the help of PWG and MCC. Pointing out that infiltration was a national problem, Singh also accused the Left Front government of doing nothing to stop the large-scale illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. "It is regrettable that infiltrators were being given ration cards in West Bengal with an eye on the election," he said.

IBN Live

CPI(M), Trinamool two sides of same coin: BJP

BJP today described the ruling CPI(M) and Opposition Trinamool Congress in West Bengal as “two sides of the same coin”, while asserting that it was going to fight in nearly all the seats for the upcoming Assembly elections.

“We are going to fight in almost all the seats in West Bengal,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said on the sidelines of the party’s national office-bearers’ meet in Kolkata.

“We regard the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress as two sides of the same coin. CPI(M) has run the State to the ground and there is no industry, huge unemployment and public discontent,” BJP central observer Chandan Mitra said.

He said the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal had done nothing for the development of the State in its 34-year rule.

“But at the same time, the Trinamool Congress has behaved erratically and has not been able to come up with a roadmap for the future.”

Mr. Mitra claimed that “hooligans and other criminal elements of CPI(M) have now joined the ranks of opposition Trinamool Congress.”

It is a choice between the devil and the deep sea, he said.

“We resolve to establish our presence in the coming elections,” Mr. Mitra said, adding the meet discussed the tactics and strategy that the party would follow in the elections to the five states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.

Flaying the Congress over talks with ULFA, he said, “This could have been done five years back.

“Congress has a deal with the ULFA before every election in Assam. Now this has come in the open. We believe in peace and want it but it should not be opportunistic and election-related as is happening now.”

Mr. Mitra said the party hoped to do well in the Assam Assembly elections, stating that “BJP will be considerably strengthened given the vote polarisation in the state.”

The meeting of the office-bearers discussed reports by the in-charge of party affairs in the poll-bound states, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She said it was also decided to hold a meeting of office-bearers on February 22 in Delhi on the upcoming Budget sessions in different States, particularly the BJP-ruled ones.

Stating that special stress would be given on ‘Antodya Scheme’ for upliftment of poor, she said, “There will be a high accent on Antodya.”

Elections for the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly are due in May.

Source: The Hindu

Communists are equally responsible for price rise: BJP

Kolkata, Feb 15 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said that the Left parties were equally responsible for the price rise of essential commodities as they were alliance partners in the first term of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre.

'In 2004, the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and CPI (Communist Party of India) had played a crucial role in the formation of the first term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Whenever Congress comes to power, the prices of essentials go up,' senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said while addressing a rally here.

'If Congress is responsible for the price rise, then CPI-M and CPI are also equally responsible,' he said.

Rajnath Singh also said that wrong economic policies and corruption of the UPA government had contributed to the price rise.

Singh alleged the state's ruling Marxists were colluding with the Maoists in the early 'nineties.

'They have earlier supported the MCC (Maoist Communist Centre) and the PWG (People's War Group) from 1993 to 2001 to have undue benefits during the elections,' said Singh.

(Sify News)

PM weak, can't speak up against corruption: Advani

Kolkata, Feb 15 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Tuesday once again dubbed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a 'weak prime minister' and criticised him for his inability to stand up against corruption charges against the Congress-led central government.

'When I had said during the 2009 Lok Sabha election campaign that I have seen all the prime ministers since Jawaharlal Nehru but I feel pity for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh because I have never seen such a weak prime minister, many people said that I should not say this because many people feel bad about it,' said Advani while addressing a mammoth rally in Kolkata.

Earlier during 2009 Lok Sabha elections campaign, Advani as also some other BJP leaders had targeted Manmohan Singh and repeatedly called him the weakest prime minister India has had.

But the strategy backfired as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) faced lost to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) spearheaded by the Congress, which regained power with a handsome majority.

'At that time (2009) I had said that being a good person is fine. But if a good person is weak and he becomes prime minister then he can never stand up against corruption charges and scams. In last few months, my words have been proved true. The Supreme Court has several times scolded the government,' said Advani.

(Sify News)

BJP criticises Mamata for frequently changing allies

Kolkata, Feb 15 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday took a dig at Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress for 'frequently changing allies and hobnobbing with Maoists'.

Speaking at a rally in the city, senior leader L.K. Advani said: 'It (Trinamool) keeps on changing allies, sometimes with this party, sometimes with that party. How can you trust such a party?'

Although the Trinamool and the BJP were alliance partners from 1998 to 2008, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has been switching her allegiance frequently between the BJP and the Congress.

She first walked out of the Vajpayee government to protest the petrol price hike. Then, in the wake of the Tehelka controversy, she deserted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre and formed a coalition with the Congress for the 2001 West Bengal assembly elections. When this attempt to oust the ruling Left Front failed, she returned to the NDA in just six months.

The two parties again formally parted ways when the Trinamool forged an alliance with the Congress during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, criticising Banerjee for her alleged nexus with the Maoists, said: 'It is unfortunate to see that West Bengal, which once was the most prosperous state in the country, has on one hand the Marxists while on the other, there are those who support the Maoists.'

(Sify News)

BJP to approach President on NE scams

The BJP would be petitioning President Pratibha Patil on scams worth Rs 63,000 crore in the Northeast. The party, in its report titled ‘Congress Governments: Loot of North-East”, alleged systematic loot of development funds by politicians, bureaucrats and government officials in all states of the region over the past few years. A three member fact finding team has prepared the report.
Assam, the BJP alleged, was the biggest culprit with scams exceeding Rs 20,000 crore.

“Our party president Nitin Gadkari will submit the report on the scams in the Northeast to the President (Patil). We will submit all documentary evidences to her,” BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said in Guwahati on Monday. “We will also request the Supreme Court to constitute a special bench to probe these scams.”
“Assam has become the most corrupt state in the country with underhand dealings in 11 vital services, as revealed in a study conducted jointly by Transparency International and Centre for Media Studies,” Somaiya said.
The level of corruption is ‘alarming’ in Nagaland, ‘very high’ in Meghalaya and Sikkim, ‘high’ in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, and ‘moderate’ in Tripura and Mizoram, he added.
The BJP singled out Assam on PDS, alleging rice meant for BPL families amounting to Rs 1,000 crore went straight to the black market. The party also alleged schemes such as NREGA were a major source of corruption in Assam.
Senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley would be highlighting the reports in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and seeking a debate on the scams.

Source: Hindustan Times

Entire Union Cabinet responsible for high food inflation: Arun Jaitley

(Kolkata | PTI, Feb 6, 2011) BJP leader Arun Jaitley today said that not only the prime minister, but the entire Union Cabinet including its ally Trinamool Congress, were equally responsible for the high rate of food inflation.

"Rate of food inflation is much higher now than that of non-food items and for which not Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alone, his entire Union Cabinet and Mamata Banerjee are equally responsible", Jaitley told a BJP rally at the ongoing 'Navjagaran Rathyatra' at Habra in adjoining North 24 Parganas district.

Claiming that none other than BJP would be able to usher in an era of peace and development in the coming elections in West Bengal, he said all BJP chief ministers would arrive here on February 15 "to explain to the people how BJP will ensure pace of development in the state if we can wrest power here."

Jaitley said that while the JD(U)-BJP coalition government had brought about a rapid change in Bihar in last five years, "West Bengal projects a grim picture under the 34 years of Left Front rule."

He said it was a matter of regret that West Bengal, once industrially prosperous, "lagged much behind" other states under CPI(M) rule.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_entire-union-cabinet-responsible-for-high-food-inflation-arun-jaitley_1504106

Naba Jagaran Jatra by State BJP President Rahul Sinha

Source: The Pioneer, Delhi

BJP against Muslim quota in jobs in Bengal: Murli Manohar Joshi

Senior BJP leader, Murli Manohar Joshi on Tuesday said his party strongly opposed West Bengal Government's decision on ten per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs. "West Bengal Government's decision on Muslim reservation is unacceptable. We shall oppose it tooth and nail. Reservation on religious line is unconstitutional too," Joshi told a rally at Ashighar, 45 km from here.
"We are opposed to any reservation either on religion or on castes. Reservation should be given to the poorest of the poor irrespective of caste and religion," Joshi said.

Apparently with an eye on elections in the state, West Bengal government last year in February announced 10 per cent job reservation for Muslims under the OBC category.

Referring to the political situation of the state, Joshi said both the ruling and opposition parties had resorted to politics of violence. "It is unfortunate that poor farmers are killed in the state," he said without mentioning the January 7 Netai village massacre.

Joshi said the 35-year rule of Left Front government had pulled down Bengal to the nadir of non-performance. "It is a shame for the Marxists that they have thrown once thriving Bengal to out of the development map of the country."

About price rise, he said, it was not fair for Trinamool Congress chief to remain quiet on price rise when she was an important ally of UPA-II.

Turning to Congress, Joshi said, the party had become a storehouse of corruption. "Shamelessly they defend the loot of public money in several sectors. And the perpetrators are allowed to go scot free," he said.

Joshi came to Jalpaiguri on the party's 'Nabajagaran Rath'.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/westbengal/BJP-against-Muslim-quota-in-jobs-in-Bengal-Murli-Manohar-Joshi/Article1-657304.aspx