BJP’s black money promises have proved empty: Rahul

Launching a scathing attack on the BJP for failing to bring back black money within 100 days of power, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that administration was ‘an art that required patience and seriousness’ and the BJP lacked both the abilities. 

Addressing a poll meeting at Panki in Palamau, Gandhi reminded the BJP as to how it had mocked Congress over the latter’s efforts in bringing back black money, but BJP itself has ‘failed’ in getting the stashed money from foreign banks.

A day after Narendra Modi kicked off BJP’s poll campaign in Naxal-hit Palamau, the Gandhi scion attributed the problems surrounding diplomacy for the delay in the pursuit of black money during the UPA regime and said the Modi government was talking of the same problems confronting it now. 

Taking on Modi’s Swachh Bharat Campaign, Gandhi said the important factor in cleanliness was to make the people aware of cleanliness instead of just placing brooms in their hands. Accusing the BJP of making moves to amend tenancy acts of Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana, Gandhi said the Congress would not allow any change in the acts, which protect land of tribals. 

Stating that the Congress had never been in power in Jharkhand directly, Gandhi alleged that the state was ruled by the BJP for nine of the 14 years that enhanced and fostered corruption within the state. He further added that the Congress was serious about the state’s development and would definitely take the opportunity if it got to serve the people of Jharkhand this time. While hailing the initiatives taken during its regime, he said that programmes like green revolution, MGNREGA, RTI and women’s reservation were the party’s initiatives as the Congress believed in taking all sections of society along with it. ‘We brought green revolution, RTI and 50 per cent reservation for women as we believe in taking all the sections along with it,’ he said.