Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, March 29: Upping the ante against ruling UPA government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Sunday said that at least Rs 25 lakh crore belonging to Indians are stashed in Swiss banks’ benami (secret) accounts.
Speaking to reporters here Advani pointed out, "During the economic crisis US had asked Swiss banks to reveal the information of their citizens’ accounts. Likewise Manmohan Singh can raise the issue of about the wealth of the Indian citizens abroad at the G-20 summit.”
Few years ago Western nations were not concerned about the money in Swiss banks and overlooked it. It is after the global economic crisis that their attitude has changed.
"I had made a request in Germany last year in this regard and wrote to the PM. Later I received Finance Minister’s reply on the issue which was not satisfactory and was more of an evasive action,” Advani told a press conference.
"According to the reports the amount lying in the Swiss banks is astounding…. according to wikipedia the amount was said to be USD 2.6 trillion in 2001 which reached USD 5.7 trillion in 2007," he added.
He further revealed that "The Indian citizens’ money in Swiss banks is anywhere between USD 500 to 1400 billion according to an analyst.”
Quoting NSA MK Narayanan Advani said, "During boom period in the stock exchange last year NSA said that this boom is due to terror money.”
"The money in these accounts includes black money, crime money and terror money. So this money is constituted by corruption, crime and terror,” Advani state further.
Calling the matter as important Advani promised, "If NDA returns to power then we’ll force Indian citizens to bring back their wealth to India and use the money here.”
"Backwardness in our infrastructure, agriculture and other sector can all be corrected using this money. If the amount of Rs 25 lakh crore or USD 500 bn is brought back to India then villages across the nation can get potable water, schools with Internet facility can be opened in all villages each and every village can be allocated Rs 4 crore," Advani said.
"We would request the Election Commission also to make it mandatory for all candidates to disclose whether they have any bank account outside India or not,” Advani said.
Advani looked to dodge the media over Varun Gandhi’s hate speech issue and promised to speak later.
The good sign for BJP was the presence of Arun Jaitley along with Advani suggesting that the internal rift of the party has been resolved.