Bengaluru: Flaying Prime Minister’s assurance that “strict” action would be taken in the PNB fraud involving jewellery designer Nirav Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked Narendra Modi to first explain how money was taken away from the bank under his nose.
“A scam of Rs 22,000 crore happens, Nirav Modi runs away with Rs 22000 from Indian Banks, and Modi ji (Prime Minister) says action will be taken,” Gandhi said.
Addressing a Congress rally Athani, he said, “Action will be taken? You make us understand how did Nirav Modi take Rs 22,000 crore from Indian Banks under the nose of Narendra Modi’s government. Action can be taken later, first you tell us that how Modi (Nirav Modi) took away Rs 22000 crore from bank.”
“Why did your Finance Minister, you (Prime Minister Modi) allow this to happen,” the Congress President said.
Invoking 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara from Karnataka, Gandhi quoted his saying, “don’t indulge in theft.” But, Gandhi told Modi, “theft happened in front of you and you don’t utter a word.”
Breaking his silence over the Rs 11,400-crore fraud at India’s second-biggest PSU bank, Modi had yesterday warned of strict action against those involved in financial irregularities and said loot of public money will not be tolerated.
Gandhi is touring parts of north Karnataka as part of his second leg of campaign in Karnataka, where elections are expected in April/May.
During his speech, the Congress President repeatedly quoted Basaveshwara, who is revered by dominant Lingayat/ Veerashiva community who are predominantly present in northern parts of the state, to attack the Prime Minister.
He said Basaveshwara had said five things “don’t indulge in theft, don’t indulge in violence, do not lie, do not boast about yourself and don’t spread anger.”
“First one was don’t indulge in theft, Narendra Modi says that Congress party government in Karnataka is corrupt. When he says it on his right side is his chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa who had gone to jail, on the other side 4 more ministers who had gone to jail,” Gandhi said.
Modi who gives long speeches is quite on fighter jet Rafael deal with Dassault of France, he said.
“He (Modi) banned the notes, implemented Gabbar Singh Tax and destroyed lakhs of businesses, but Jay Shah’s (BJP President Amit Shah’s son) business within 3 months’ converts from Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore. On this Narendra Modi does not speak anything.”
Pointing out that Basaveshwara also said don’t indulge in violence, Gandhi hit out at Modi government, accusing it of dividing the society and indulging in atrocities against Dalits and minorities.
“Your record is in front of the world. Dalits are getting killed. They are getting beaten up in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Minorities are also getting beaten up, adivasis are being crushed and you don’t utter a word,” he said.
“Wherever your party is (in power), it indulges in violence there; it indulges in dividing people and spreads enmity,” he alleged.
Noting that Basaveshwara’s saying not to lie, the Congress President questioned Modi reminding about promises made during 2014 Lok Sabha polls including depositing Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of every India and 2 crore youth getting job and getting India free of corruption.
“Has he worked on this and shown to you? Wasn’t Rs 15 lakh thing a lie, Amit Shah had himself said that it was a lie, it was jumla,” he said.
Gandhi also hit out at the Prime Minister for claiming credit for everything that is happening. “You say nothing happened in 70 years and whatever is happening whether it is in your party or in the country it is only because of Narendra Modi. Whether it is rocket launch or Army that fights and martyrs in the border, Modi ji says see I did it,” he chided.
He said Sushma Swaraj (Foreign Minister), Nitin Gadkari (Transport Minister) and Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) do not have any work in this government, and only one man works that is Narendra Modi.
“Modi ji when you bow before Basawa ji remember what he said- do not boast about yourself, this is the truth,” Gandhi said.
