The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in the Centre four years ago. But, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders often forget that they are running the government and often speak like they are in the Opposition benches. From hunger strikes for a totally washed-out Parliament session to taking previous governments to task for their non-performance, the BJP leaders have done it all.
Not surprising then that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday asked whether Rahul Gandhi will conduct an inquiry on P Chidambaram’s “undisclosed assets and income”. “The Congress party’s president who is also out on bail on a financial matter, he should certainly comment and tell people of India if he is going to investigate on this senior leader of the party (P Chidambaram) not having disclosed income held abroad,” Sitharaman said.
Surprisingly, Sitharaman failed to consider the fact that the central investigating agencies are under the Central government. The defence minister’s attack on Rahul Gandhi, therefore, was comical.
Undoubtedly, as an opposition party, the BJP was very strong. Take a walk down memory lane, remember the instances when fuel price was increased by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), rape cases hit headlines and the dollar got stronger against the rupee. BJP leaders would launch scatching attacks on the Congress on each of these issues. They never failed to underline the government’s alleged inefficiency.
Sadly, the situation hasn’t changed much now. The only difference is that the tables have turned which the BJP probably fails to accept. So, BJP, the party running the government accuses the Opposition for the blackmoney problem and even asks them to investigate. The what and why part remains unanswered.
Calling P Chidambaram’s black money case as the Congress party’s “Nawaz Sharif moment”, the defence minister said, “For some time now we have been hearing a lot of action by the I-T authorities against former finance minister P Chidambaram and his family. P Chidambaram owns property in UK and US, and 21 foreign accounts.”
The minister asserted that in pursuit of black money, time was given to disclose assets which were held and brought to public notice. “If convicted, the act [Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015] provides for 120 per cent tax and penalty on those undisclosed assets and income, and when proven invites jail term.”
Earlier in the month, India Today created a stir by highlighting the poor budget allocation status of the Defence Ministry. “Although India’s defence budget has been hiked by 7.8 per cent, it is just about 1.6 per cent of the projected GDP for 2018-19, the lowest such figure since the 1962 war with China. According to experts, it needs to be over 2.5 per cent to ensure the armed forces are capable of tackling the ‘collusive threat’ from Pakistan and China,” the India Today report said. The cover page of the edition showed an Armyman with his pockets empty.
Reacting to Sitharaman’s statement, Congress party member Pawan Khera told Network 18, “Just like Sitharaman doesn’t concentrate on her portfolio, looks like she didn’t concentrate on what Chidambaram’s CA said. He clearly states that all documents have been submitted well in time.”