Bardhan hits out at UPA govt over corruption, black money

Hyderabad, Jun 16: Hitting out at the UPA government over the issues of corruption and black money, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan on Wednesday, June 15 alleged that the Centre had failed to take effective steps to check the malaise.

CPI leaders S Sudhakar Reddy and Gurudas Dasgupta had been raising the issues in Parliament since 2008 and had even written to the Prime Minister, he said.

"Did Manmohan Singh reply? No. How will you get back the money? Who are those who have deposited black money. Reveal the names. That is our demand," he said.

Bardhan said CPI demanded the removal of Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and a probe against him, he said.

Even though the UPA government appointed some persons suggested by activist Anna Hazare to prepare the Lokpal bill, the Congress has started attempts to defame him, Bardhan alleged.

Referring to the CAG report on the alleged irregularities in gas operations in Krishna Godavari basin, Bardhan said CPI had raised the issue in Lok Sabha.

"I told (CPI Deputy General Secretary) S Sudhakar Reddy to write to the Prime Minister and remind him that we had already raised this issue. We will ask him why he has not taken steps," he said.

The CPI would take up agitations on the issues of corruption, price rise and every other issue of the people, he added.

PTI