Govt has taken up advocacy services for the corrupt: BJP

New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) BJP today alleged that the mannerin which the names of those having black money in tax havensabroad are being "withheld" and efforts are being made to"shield" ex-Telecom Minister A Raja shows the government hastaken up "consultancy or advocacy services" for the corrupt.

"This government is ruling with a colonial mindset. Theway it has so-called disclosed the names of black moneystashers does not instill any confidence. It has been saidthat perhaps from the back door, they were asked to pay thetaxes and then the names were exposed," BJP spokesperson TarunVijay said.

He added that this allegation was yet to beinvestigated. The BJP leader maintained that it was notacceptable that the government cannot reveal the names ofblack money stashers in Swiss and foreign banks.

"Those who shield their Quattrochchi (Italian businessmanallegedly involved in Bofors pay-offs) and in illegal wayreturn his money are shying away from bringing back Indianpeople''s money in foreign banks. This raises the suspicionthat perhaps they have a stake in that money," Vijay said.

The principal opposition insisted that those who havestashed their black money in foreign banks are "anti-national,they are like traitors, they are like economic terrorists". Itasked the government to come clean on these issues and "notact as a colonial government".

"Government is not only trying to shield them. It hastaken up a consultancy or advocacy service for the corrupt,"Vijay said.

He named Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal as the one who wastrying to "shield" his predecessor A Raja in the 2-G Spectrumallocation case despite his arrest.

"Even now Congress is trying to cover up all itsmisdeeds under one or the other alibi," Vijay said.

BJP maintained that there should not be any provisionwhich should stop the government from exposing the corrupt andgiving them exemplary punishment.

"Especially if those who are in politics are foundcorrupt they should never be spared. They should be dealt withextra harshness," Vijay said.