Advani attacks Sonia over corruption

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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani on Saturday accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of being silent on corruption.

"Why is the Congress president silent on the issue of corruption? Since Manmohan Singh has become the prime minister, the system in India is like in Communist countries where a party president is more important," he told reporters here.

Advani, who is on the Mumbai leg of his Jan Chetna Yatra, said inflation could be controlled if there was no corruption.

He also said the focus of parliament's winter session beginning Nov 22 will be on the issue of black money.

Announcing his plans after the yatra, Advani said he would take up the issue of black money with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"After this yatra, the focus of the winter session is bound to be the black money parked in foreign banks. The issue of black money comes under the political system and I have the right to know who they (the involved) are," he said.

"It would be our effort to see that the issue of black money be the principal issue of discussion in the winter session. We would also like to know what steps are being taken against the issue," he said.

Advani also asked the government to reveal the names of three parliamentarians who allegedly figure in the income tax probe list in connection with their accounts in foreign banks.

"I have the right to know who they are. This cannot be dealt with as a mere issue of tax evasion," he said.

He also demanded that the government present a comprehensive white paper listing steps taken against illicit money in foreign banks.

"Countries like the US, Germany, France and even smaller nations like the Philippines, Peru and Nigeria have taken a variety of measures to bring back black money parked in foreign bank accounts with great success," he said.

"Why is the UPA government not ready to do the same," he asked.

Advani, however, refused to speak about the corruption cases against former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

"I have spoken in detail on this issue. I do not want to repeat the same things again and again," he said.