DEHRADUN, Jan 29:
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and yoga guru Ramdev on the issue of black money, the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand today staged a sit-in along the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar to protest against the Centre’s alleged failure to keep promises made to people including the one about bringing back Indian black money stashed away in foreign banks.
After staging the dharna at the famous Har Ki Pauri, Congress workers led by PCC Chief Kishore Upadhyay submitted a five point memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to Haridwar District Magistrate asking Modi to take steps needed to fulfil his electoral promises or extend an unconditional apology to people for letting them down.
Targeting Modi and the yoga guru together, Upadhyaya said both of them went to people before the Lok Sabha polls promising to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks within 100 days of coming to power.
Accusing Ramdev of projecting repatriation of Indian black money before the polls as the solution to all problems, Upadhayay recalled how the yoga guru in his election meetings told people how bringing back black money from foreign banks will facilitate exemption from all taxes, deposit of Rs 15 lakh into the bank account of each family besides payment of Rs 25 000 per month to pensioners. Accusing both Modi and Ramdev of maintaining a studied silence over the issue post elections, the PCC chief asked them to explain to the people of the country when they would fulfil their promises. Raising the issue of Ganga cleaning, Upadhyay said their pre-poll commitment was to make the mighty river absolutely clean but nothing has been done so far in that direction.
Claiming that there is widespread resentment over the issue among people in Uttarakhand where the ancient river originates, he said the Centre will have to clarify how long it will take to initiate the process. The PCC chief also alleged that the Centre has still not cleared the first round of proposals sent by the state government for cleaning the Ganga which originates from Gangotri in Uttarkashi district. Accusing the Centre of failing to control rising prices, the Congress leader said despite a substantial drop in crude oil prices in the international market it had failed to give its benefits to the common man by reducing the prices of essential commodities.
Despite repeated requests made by the state government for funds in view of preparation for the 2016 Ardha Kumbh in Haridwar, not a single penny has been released by the Centre, he alleged. Asking the Centre to define a timeframe for fulfilling its pre-poll promises, Upadhyay said if it cannot do this it should extend an apology to people for misleading them for votes. (PTI)
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