Name those who have money in foreign banks : BJP

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday demanded that the government reveal the names of Indians who have stashed money in banks abroad, wondering why it was 'doggedly' refusing to do so.

"What is the reason behind the dogged refusal to reveal names of those who have stashed money in foreign banks?" BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

Referring to the Central Board of Direct Taxes submitting to the apex court on Monday a list of Indians who have accounts in Liechtenstein's LGT Bank, Prasad said the government was not revealing the names citing the double taxation avoidance agreement.

He said the government stance was "illogical".

"BJP demands the government to be proactive if its intentions are correct. People expect the government to reveal the names of the account holders," Prasad said.

"We expect that this should come about quickly and let the nation know who has done what service for the nation or for personal enrichment," he added.

The BJP demand comes in the wake of names of 2,000 secret account holders in Swiss banks, including individuals and corporates from the UK, Asia and the US, handed over by a former banker to WikiLeaks on Monday.

'We are interested in the names from India and the entire country expects that those who have looted public money and invested abroad in Swiss bank accounts, their names should also be exposed,' Prasad said.

Prasad said that Germany has shared information with the government about bank accounts and wondered what action has been taken.

Rahul’s pro-Lashkar e-Taiba remarks shocked the nation

NEW DELHI : The pro-Pakistan remarks by Rahul Gandhi shocked various nationalist organizations across the country. His open support to hardcore Islamic terrorist organization like Lashkar e-Taiba was a surprise to congress top leadership itself. 

Senior RSS leader Ram Madhav said that there was a race in the senior congress leadership to project Hindus as terrorists. "It is shocking that there is a race in the senior Congress leadership to indirectly or directly support jihadi terror and to project Hindus as terrorists in this country, that too in gross violation of established diplomatic norms and procedures," said Ram Madhav

According to Wikileaks, Rahul had told US Ambassador Timothy Roemer that growth of radicalised Hindu groups was a bigger threat than Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"Going to a foreign ambassador and talking with him about India's international issues is most shocking. It only betrays utter lack of knowledge of Indian reality as well as lack of knowledge of government diplomatic practices in a person who aspires to be whatever in this country tomorrow," Madhav said.

WikiLeaks: Rahul believes Hindu extremists bigger threat than Muslim militants

New Delhi : In controversial comments, Rahul Gandhi has told US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer that the growth of "radicalised Hindu groups" posed a bigger threat to the country than militant groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, according to a leaked American diplomatic cable.

Rahul, during a conversation with the envoy at a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence in July 2009 in honour of visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also referred to the tensions created by some of the more polarising figures in the BJP such as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the cable said.
According to a secret US diplomatic cable from New Delhi released by WikiLeaks, the Congress leader shared his views with Roemer on a range of political topics, social challenges, and electoral issues for the Congress party in the next five years.
"Responding to the ambassador's query about Lashkar-e-Toiba's activities in the region and immediate threat to India, Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim community," the cable notes.
"Gandhi, however, warned, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community," it said.
The cable dated August 3, 2009 which described Roemer's luncheon encounter with Gandhi on July 20, 2009, said Gandhi was referring to the tensions created by some of the more polarising figures in the BJP such as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"The risk of a 'home-grown' extremist front, reacting to terror attacks coming from Pakistan or from Islamist groups in India, was a growing concern and one that demanded constant attention," it said.
The cable signed by Roemer says that Gandhi, who was seated next to the Ambassador, was forthright in describing the challenges faced by the Congress party and the UPA government in the months ahead.
In late 2007, US diplomats had described Gandhi: "Widely viewed as an empty suit, he will have to prove wrong those who dismiss him as a lightweight."
"To do so he will have to demonstrate determination, depth, savvy and stamina," it said.
"He will need to get his hands dirty in the untidy and ruthless business that is Indian politics," a diplomat reportedly said in a cable entitled 'The son also rises: Rahul Gandhi takes another step towards top job'.
Other US cables talk of Gandhi's political inexperience and repeated gaffes. They also repeat cutting criticism from political analysts and journalists.
However, the cables reportedly reveal that as Gandhi warmed to the US, the US warmed to him.
In a meeting with another American official last summer, he explained his strategy of targetting rural populations and small towns, impressing his interlocutor.
"(Gandhi) came off as a practiced politician who knew how to get his message across, was precise and articulate and demonstrated a mastery that belied the image some have of (him) as a dilettante," the official said.
In November last year, after a meeting with the US ambassador, a cable to Washington described Gandhi as "an elusive contact in the past" but now "clearly interested in reaching out to the USG (United States Government)".
A cable from February this year describes him as "increasingly sure-footed".
For Roemer, writing after the lunch during which Gandhi had commented on extremism, "the rising profile of young leaders like Rahul Gandhi provides (the USA with) an opening to expand the constituency in support of the strategic partnership with a long term horizon".
When contacted in New Delhi, the US Embassy offered no comments on the WikiLeaks contents.
The United States, which has accused WikiLeaks of stealing its secret cables, has refused to either deny or confirm the authenticity of these cables.
Till as late as August too, senior Congress leader and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had cautioned state police forces, security and intelligence officials against the recently uncovered phenomenon of ‘saffron terrorism’.
"There is no let-up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India. Besides, there is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past. My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build, at the central and state levels, our capacity in counter-terrorism," he told top police and security officers.
The Congress was quick to cover its tracks after that remark when party spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi clarified later that terror had no colour.
Slamming Rahul, BJP said Congress wants to create a communal strife so that they can have a vote harvest in the coming elections.
"They (Congress) are feeling let down by the corruption scandals and price rise... so they are afraid of losing the elections. This is their old trick...," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/wikileaks-rahul-believes-hindu-extremists-bigger-threat-than-muslim-militants/726009/0

Wikileaks: Cong tried religion card for poll gains: Mulford

Ex-Envoy Heaps Scorn On ‘Crass Opportunism’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi: Former US ambassador David Mulford made a bleak assessment of the Congress’s “crass political opportunism” and its preparedness to “stoop to old caste/religious-based” politics after 26/11, saying, according to US cables published by Wikileaks, the party fanned the view that Hindutva forces were behind the attack. 

In a December 20, 2008 cable, Mulford referred to former minorities affair minister A R Antulay’s controversial suggestion that the death of Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare could be linked to his investigation of radical Hindu groups. 

After initially distancing itself from the claim, Mulford said, the Congress had chosen to play along. “The Congress party, after first distancing itself from the comments, two days later issued a contradictory statement, which implicitly endorsed the conspiracy,” said the cable. While noting that cooler heads ultimately prevailed, he added that some Congress leaders were tempted to play identity politics. 

While Mulford’s views of the Congress succumbing to votebank calculations is highly unflattering, he seems to have misread the situation as Antulay had been hauled up immediately after his remarks and had to swiftly clarify. The Congress had sensed the possibility of a backlash ahead of the general elections, which were just three months away. 

Reacting to the reports, the Congress said the matter was a communication between an ambassador and his government and would have to be verified. “The ambassador sends a secret report...somebody claims to have found out. Nobody has authenticated that. For any party to say something on this will not be responsible,” said Janardhan Dwivedi, AICC media in-charge. 

‘Congress chose to pander Muslims’ fears’ 

New Delhi: The Congress chose to play dumb about the Wikileaks revelation of former US envoy David Mulford’s cables on how the party tried to fan the view that Hindu radicals were behind 26/11, saying the “secret communication” wasn’t authenticated. But it might have squirmed a bit at Mulford’s view that former minority affairs minister A R Antulay’s comments had fed the belief of those in the Indian Muslim community, who “believe they are unfairly targetted by law enforcement and that those who investigate the truth are silenced”. 

Mulford notes that Congress “...made the cynical political calculation to lend credence to the conspiracy even after its recent emboldening state election victories. The party chose to pander to Muslims' fears, providing impetus for those in the Muslim community who will continue to play up the conspiracy theory.” TNN 12 Dec 2010