Chidambaram’s ‘Blessings’ to Be Blamed For PNB Fraud: Ravi Shankar

BJP-Congress blame game over Punjab National Bank fraud scam continues.

File photo of Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

(Photo: ANI)

In a scathing attack on the Congress party over the Punjab National bank (PNB) scam, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 5 March, alleged that the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s “blessings” to Mehul Choksi led to the scam, reported ANI.

“There was a Scheme 80:20 introduced in August 2013 and repealed in November 2014. On 16 May 2014, the date of the declaration of results, the then Finance Minister gave aashirvaad to 7 private companies under 80:20 Scheme. One of those companies was Gitanjali”, said Prasad while addressing the media.

According to NDTV, the 80:20 scheme was launched by the UPA in August 2013, when the government was trying to curb gold imports to tackle the current account deficit. According to the scheme, private traders were allowed to export 20 per cent of the imported gold and retain the rest for domestic use.

The scheme was scrapped by the NDA government in November 2014.

Training guns at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Prasad sad that he must answer why was the 80:20 law passed on the day of results to benefit the private companies.

"Under the so called economist, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the entire banking system went haywire due to all kinds of interference with it," said Prasad, as quoted by NDTV.

"The Congress must answer who were those people who were lobbying on behalf of Gitanjali and related companies. And how much cut were they taking? Rahul Gandhi must answer after he returns from Italy," said Prasad.

Congress’ Attack

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also attacked Prime Minister Modi saying thathe has not been able to bring any black money back to India, reported ANI.

“ Prime Minister has not been able to bring any black money back to India, on the contrary he has been successful in sending white money out (of the country),” said Azad.

PM goes on a number of foreign trips & BJP says he is very popular worldwide, if it is so why is this popularity not being used to bring back the people behind the huge bank scams, back to the country?

Ghulam Nabi Azad

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned on Monday for the day amid uproar by the opposition over the Rs 12,700-crore PNB scam, reported PTI.

As soon as the Upper House met at 2 pm after witnessing two quick adjournments of proceedings in the first half of the day, members from opposition parties trooped into the well creating a ruckus over issues ranging from the Rs 12,700 crore alleged fraud by fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi, to constitution of the Cauvery Water Management Board.

Amid slogans by the opposition like “Nirav Modi wapas lao” (bring back Nirav Modi), Deputy Chairman P J Kurien who was in the chair stood on his feet and urged members with folded hands to allow proceedings.

Kurien adjourned the session for the day after the opposition refused to comply.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI and NDTV)

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