Gadkari targets UPA on black money

Chennai, Jan 29 (PTI) BJP president Nitin Gadkaritoday said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi should explain whatprevented the government from disclosing names of Indians whohad stashed money in Swiss banks.

"I want to ask a million dollar question to theCongress party. Why are you not declaring the names of thosewho have deposited the black money in Swiss bank accounts?"Gadkari said at the rally marking the end of the BJP stateunit''s 40-day yatra ahead of the Assembly polls due in May.

He demanded that the reasons for not revealing thenames of Indian Swiss bank account holders be made public,stepping up his party''s pressure over the issue that has comeunder the close scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

The apex court had pulled up the government forwithholding information on black money stashed in foreignbanks, saying it is not just limited to tax evasion but a"mind boggling crime" amounting to "theft" and "plunder" ofnational wealth having security ramifications

Gadkari said if the black money deposited in the SwissBank accounts was brought back to the country, it could beused for interlinking of rivers.

"When NDA comes to power, we will bring all the blackmoney back to India and spend it for the interlinking ofrivers to help the water-starved southern states," he said.

Urging the gathering to follow former President A P JAbdul Kalam who had advocated interlinking of rivers, he said,"It is time for Tamilians to decide whom they want to follow-- whether it is Abdul Kalam or Rahul Gandhi who is againstinterlinking of rivers."

On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, he said it was notonly related to Tamil Nadu but also had become a nationalproblem and assured support of his party in securingfundamental rights for them.

"It is the democratic duty of Sri Lanka to givefundamental rights to Tamils there. I assure you we willsupport them in getting all the fundamental rights," he said.

He said the BJP would raise this issue in Parliament.

Gadkari also announced that BJP would donate Rs 10lakh to his party''s Seva Committee which is working for thewelfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils.