Declare assets, NDA tells party CMs, senior leaders

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Senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitley (right) and JD(U) president sharad Yadav (second from right)

Releasing a report on the black money issue, BJP-led NDA on Tuesday directed its chief ministers and senior-most leaders to declare their assets and asked the government to make all efforts to bring Indian black money stashed in tax havens. The alliance also said that there is no dilution on its demand for a JPC probe into the corruption cases. The NDA said it will participate in the all-party meeting called by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee next week and seek for a “credible reason” behind the Centre for not conceding a JPC probe. The report was submitted by the task force set up by the BJP.
Senior NDA leaders, including its working chairman L.K. Advani, convenor and JD(U) chief Sharad Pawar, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and SAD leader and Punjab chief minister Prakash Sigh Badal held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the black money issue. Later, briefing the media, Mr Advani presented the report. “It is appropriate that all those holding political office, whether we are members of Parliament, whether we are leaders of political parties recognised by the Election Commission. Or even Central office-bearers of the political parties, or MPs. We would like all of them to be obligated to tell the government that we have no money abroad,” Mr Advani said. He said he had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the black money issue but “did not even get an acknowledgement, forget a reply, till now”.
The leaders endorsed the suggestions of the report which targets corrupt politicians as well.
He quoted a recent survey which claimed that the general perception among people about politicians is that around 60 per cent of them are corrupt.
Taking a cue from Mr Advani, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal said, “A big issue has come up in the country. NDA chief ministers should first give in writing and announce their assets and tell the government that it can seize any black money they have.”