Cash abroad belongs to poor, bring it back: Rahul

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Aurangabad January 30:

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi intervened in the controversy over black money, saying funds stashed in banks and tax havens abroad must be brought back to the country.

Speaking in Aurangabad, Gandhi said, "We should put in as much effort as possible to ensure that Indian money, and the money that belongs to the poor, comes back. The UPA government is making efforts in this direction." His comments come close on the heels of the SC pulling up the government for treating black money as just a tax issue and not revealing the names of those who have stashed cash abroad.

The Congress leader also spoke of ways to tackle corruption. According to him, the short-term approach to graft would be to punish the guilty within six months. The long-term measure, he said, would be to understand the issue and eradicate it. "This is possible only if we bring about a change through democratic means. Give me ten years, and you will see this change," he said.

"We need to look for the cause of corruption. The money that is meant for development is being stolen by vested interests," he said, adding that this was the reason he wanted young people to join politics. "People now feel that corruption is common to all political parties. However, the Youth Congress is encouraging organizational democracy. No one is nominated or recommended to a post. Instead, everyone has to stand for elections even at the gram panchayat level," Gandhi said.

Admitting that all political parties faced corruption issues, he said, "We are not happy about the situation, and feel that the problem lay in the system. The current political structure is based on family and relations, even while making appointments. However, only a few want change." Describing the brutal murder of additional collector of Nashik Yeshwant Sonawane as "unfortunate", he said there were many similar cases across in the country and the perpetrators of such attacks must be dealt with sternly.

He added that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had already cracked down on the suspects. Chavan, who was with Gandhi, said he had directed the police to act against the oil mafia and raids were being conducted. "No one involved in this incident will be spared," Chavan asserted. Calling terrorism a crime against humanity, Gandhi said, "I condemn any hatred, violence and murder, and believe that no faith recommends the murder of innocent people."

He said his visits to Nagpur and rural areas in Uttar Pradesh were aimed at understanding the problems the people there faced. Gandhi said the world heritage site in Ellora could become one of the wonders of the world. "These monuments must get more focused attention as they reflect how advanced w
 
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