Congress cites 'sting operation' to allege post-demonetisation currency exchange for commission
BJP refutes charges
New Delhi, Apr 9: The Congress on Tuesday cited a 'sting operation' to allege exchange of old notes post-demonetisation for hefty commissions by people claiming proximity to the government and the BJP, but the ruling party refuted the allegations and said it would take appropriate legal action.
At a press conference here, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also alleged that currency notes worth thousands of crores were printed abroad and then transported into the country through Indian Air force planes after December 31, 2016.
He alleged that "a team of government officials drawn from different departments were engaged in the exchange of old notes for new post-demonetisation".
He, however, did not authenticate the videos he showed at the conference and said these are in the public domain and the concerned agencies should initiate a probe. Sibal also claimed the Election Commission was not acting on their complaints.
Responding to the charges, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in Patna "Kapil Sibal has made false allegations on our (party) president (Amit Shah) and we will take legal action."
A defence ministry spokesperson said, "It is categorically refuted that any Indian Air Force aircraft was tasked to fly abroad for carrying currency prior to, during or after demonetisation as alleged in a video released today."
"Demonetisation is the biggest scam in the history of India. Current notes (issued after the old Rs 500/100 notes were demonetised in November 2016) were printed abroad and transported into India and there can be nothing more anti-national than this," Sibal told reporters.
"Mr Modi started his tenure by fooling us and he is ending his five-year-tenure by traumatising us. He traumatised the people of this country, he has traumatised the poor of this country, he has traumatised journalists and his political opponents. He has used the agencies to target people who are opposed to him," he said.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Sibal has exposed the "stench of corruption that has reached the highest echelons of the Modi government".
"If this is not 'anti-national', then what is? Will the Supreme Court show the courage to take note and hold the corrupt accountable?" he asked.
Referring to the Income Tax Department's action against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's aides, the Congress leader said the alacrity with which the Enforcement Directorate and the I-T have acted, they should also act fast and arrest the people in the video and tell the country what has happened.
Asked if he or his party would seek any judicial intervention by moving the court on this issue, the former minister said there is no time left for elections and therefore the matter cannot be taken up.
He said the government should initiate a probe into allegations made in the video and immediately register an FIR in the matter. Sibal also asked the EC to take immediate action in the matter.
He accused the government agencies of acting against BJP's political rivals, but not against those who are close to the ruling party or the government despite complaints against them.
LIVE: Press briefing by former union minister @KapilSibal. https://t.co/FmpAWT90P3
— Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) April 9, 2019
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
