Mumbai:
On the latest leg of his anti-corruption 'rath yatra', BJP's veteran leader LK Advani took on Congress President Sonia Gandhi as he questioned her silence on the corruption issue on Saturday.
"Why is the Congress President silent on the issue of corruption? Since Manmohan Singh has become the Prime Minister, the system in India is like in communist countries where party president is more important," said Mr Advani.
"If there was no corruption inflation could be controlled. Food inflation is at a record high. This is a big problem," he added.
Mr Advani announcing his plans after the 'rath yatra', said that he will take up the issue of black money stashed in foreign bank accounts.
"After this yatra is over, the focus of the winter session will be the black money parked in Swiss accounts. I have the right to know who are they? This is a very serious matter as it brings the issue of blackmoney close to the political system and it cannot be dealt with only as a tax evasion issue," Advani told reporters at a press conference," he said.
Asking whether the Centre is really interested in exposing those who have funds stashed abroad, Mr Advani said he has been demanding that the government must come out with a white paper on the steps it has taken to bring back this black money.
Countries like USA, Germany, France and even smaller nations like Philippines, Peru and Nigeria have taken a variety of measures to bring back black money parked in
foreign bank accounts with great success.
"Why is the UPA government not ready to do the same. It would be appropriate if the government presents a white paper on black money in the winter session," he said.
"It will be our effort to see that black money is the principal issue in the upcoming session. Country wants to know where steps the government has taken in the matter," Mr Advani added.
He also said there is no leadership crisis in the BJP and the 'rath yatra' is not an attempt to project him as the future Prime Minister of the country.
"There is no leadership crisis in BJP. Someone asked me if this 'yatra' is to repackage Advani. This has nothing to do with me or the BJP. It's to restore India's Image in the eyes of the world," he said.
Asked about corruption cases against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Advani said, "I have spoken in detail on this issue. I do not want to repeat the same things
again and again."BS Yeddyurappa is in jail on land scam charges.
However, differing with Team Anna, Advani disfavoured the introduction of the Right to Recall saying it may destabilise the whole structure in a country as big as India.
"I am inclined to agree with the Chief Election Commissioner that in a country as vast as ours, it (Right to Recall) may have consequences which may destabilise the whole
structure," he told reporters.
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi had recently said that the Right to Recall could destabilise the country.
(With inputs from PTI)