Centre knows who has money in foreign banks, says Buddhadeb

Malda (WB), Feb 5 (PTI) Accusing the Congress-led UPAgovernment of being "neck deep" in corruption, West BengalChief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today claimed that theCentre knew who had stashed away money in foreign banks.

"Capitalists in India have amassed Rs 70 lakh croreand some of them have deposited money in Indian banks and inbanks abroad too. Our central government knows who are they,"Bhattacharjee told reporters at a rally in this north Bengaltown.

Holding the UPA government responsible for the"unchecked growth" of corruption and black money in thecountry, he said, "In our poor country, we have about 100world''s richest people here. No idea what they do with suchhuge money and one section has stashed away such money inSwiss banks where bad people keep money."

The chief minister''s comments after Finance MinisterPranab Mukherjee today yet again ruled out disclosing names ofthose who have stashed away money in tax havens abroad butdisclosed that notices have been sent to 17 of the 18 names ofaccount holders in a bank in Liechtenstein.

Hitting out against the Centre''s "failure" to curbcorruption, Bhattacharjee said Congress leader Ashok Chavanmight soon be jailed.

"The Congress is neck deep in corruption and amongmany other corrupt practices known to us, the latest is thecase of corruption against Congress leader and formerMaharashtra Chief Minister (Ashok Chavan) who may be jailedshortly for his involvement in the Adarsh housing scam," hesaid.

Alleging that the "total failure and inept handling"by the UPA government had brought the country''s economy to thebrink of a "disaster", Bhattacharjee said the governmentshould open more public distribution system (PDS) shops andrevamp the rationing system. (More) PTI PB NIK