Jaipur, July 16 (ANI): Former Lok Sabha speaker and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed contestant P.A. Sangma on Monday used Bharatiya Janata Party MP and lawyer Ram Jethmalani's letter with regard to money stashed in safe havens abroad to take potshots at UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
Sangma said Jethmalani has accused Mukherjee of not disclosing the names of those persons, who have money in Swiss banks abroad.
"The country has been experiencing so many scams, which has never happened in the past. Now, the question is who is responsible for this. Jethmalani says that the presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee has all the list of people, who have got accounts in foreign countries, Swiss banks, and he is not disclosing it," he said.
Sangma further said the present economic scenario would have an impact on the July 19 presidential election, and added that the former Finance Minister would have to face the consequences of it.
"Today, the rupee is at an all time low. Who is responsible for it, the Finance Minister? The prices are so high that the common people cannot afford essential commodities. Who is responsible for this, it is the Finance Minister. Then FDI, you have seen today, Barack Obama, the President of United States, is directing the Government of India as to what Indian Government should do on FDI," said Sangma.
"Is it not a shame for our country and shame for those who are under our country? So, these are issues before the people and I am sure that this will have an impact on the election on the 19th," he added.
Jethmalani had earlier challenged Mukherjee to disclose the names of people whose money was stashed away in foreign banks.
Jethmalani had in an open to Mukherjee earlier criticized him for not being able to repatriate the black money held in Swiss bank accounts in his capacity as the country's finance minister.
Jethmalani also accused Mukherjee of supporting the 1975 emergency and participating in its misdeeds.
"During the scandalous Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975 and the resulting suspension of human rights of all citizens and the virtual demise of democracy, you were a very loyal, though a small time supporter of the Emergency. You fully supported it and participated in its misdeeds. You cannot honestly claim that at least in some small measure you expressed your disapproval of its evil or that you prevented a single atrocity inflicted upon some honest citizens," said Jethmalani.
"Citizens possessed of the highest intellectual, moral and spiritual qualifications were the victims. You saved none. Throughout the Emergency, you acted like a loyal servant of the Gandhi family and what is worse, you were a complete collaborator with the main criminal of the Emergency i.e., the late Sanjay Gandhi. You treated him as your boss," he adds.
Jethmalani further said: "During this period you were a Minister of State for Revenue and Expenditure. You have not been able to claim, even till today, that you gave any good advice to Sanjay and he desisted because of your good advice."
Jethmalani told Mukherjee in his letter that he was duly awarded for the services rendered to Sanjay Gandhi and his mother Indira Gandhi, as he was made the Minister of Finance after the fall of the Government
Jethmalani said that Mukherjee's 2010 confession showed his knowledge of excesses during emergency.
"Your confession of 2010 shows your knowledge of excesses during Emergency. Why did you not speak of those excesses to the Shah Commission and help it to determine the truth? Of course you did show your loyalty to your erstwhile benefactors and conspirators, but you failed in your duty to truth and democracy," said Jethmalani.
"The emergency was over and nobody had any fear from the new government. Even then, you did not summon courage to speak the truth," he adds. (ANI)
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