Hitting back at the BJP for suggesting ‘deep links’ between the Gandhi family and the arrested promoter of Yes Bank, Rana Kapoor , the Congress on Sunday termed the charges an attempt at “diverting attention from the bank scam under the BJP’s watch”.
The BJP’s information and technology wing head, Amit Malviya, tweeted a news clip which claimed that Mr. Kapoor had bought a painting from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
“Every financial crime in India has deep link with the Gandhis. Mallya used to send flight upgrade tickets to Sonia Gandhi. Had access to MMS (Manmohan Singh) and PC (P. Chidambaram). Is absconding. Rahul inaugurated Nirav Modi's bridal jewellery collection, he defaulted. Rana bought Priyanka Vadra’s paintings,” Mr. Malviya had tweeted. The Congress termed the charge “fake”, and claimed that Ms. Vadra had sold an M.F. Husain painting, gifted to her father, Rajiv Gandhi, at an auction.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference that Ms. Vadra received the entire auction amount in a cheque and it had been fully disclosed in her income tax returns for 2010.
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Attacking the BJP, Mr. Singhvi noted that the beleguered bank’s loan book rose from ₹55,633 crore in 2014 — the year Mr. Modi took charge as Prime Minister — to ₹2,41,499 crore in March 2019.
Post-demonetisation rise
“Why did the loan book rise by 100% in two years after demonetisation — from ₹98,210 crore in March 2016 to ₹2,03,534 crore in March 2018? Were PM and FM sleeping, ignorant or complicit,” the Congress leader asked.
In a scathing attack, Mr. Singhvi said the recent policies of the government — from rising food inflation to declining EPF rates by the Employee Provident Fund Organisation and a proposed three-fold hike in insurance premiums — had broken the back of the common man.
He said productivity, employment and the rupee had all fallen, while inflation, social division along with the government's arrogance had risen.
The Congress spokesperson also strongly protested against a proposed over 20% hike in third-party insurance premiums for most two-wheelers and three-wheelers besides four-wheelers under the 1500-cc category.
He said a similar hike had also been proposed by regulators for life insurance premiums, and urged the government to stop these decisions that would adversely affect the middle and lower-class the most. “Decisions taken by this government or rather allowed to be taken by this government without interference, restraint and injunction despite having the power to control and stop is directly impacting three Ps of the common man: purchasing power, planning for future and preparation,” Mr. Singhvi said.
BPCL stake sale
In a tweet, Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala attacked the government over the stake sale of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd . “BPCL gave ₹2051.53 crore profit to the government in December. The Modi government has invited bids for sale of its entire 53% stake in BPCL. Is this also an election promise made to crony capitalist friends,” he said.
