BJP leaders in note exchange scam after demonetisation: Kapil Sibal

Mateen Hafeez / TNN

TNN | Apr 28, 2019, 08.26 AM IST

 

 

 

 

 

MUMBAI: Congress leader and former law minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that a few government officials and some politicians of the rulingparty were involved in a money exchange scam post the demonetisation deadline. Sibal claimed that some sting operation videos showed those involved in the money exchange scam had asked for a commission of 15 to 40 per cent to exchange old notes with new ones.

"If our government comes to power, we will investigate this," he said, while screening around seven short videos at a press conference.

In these videos, some persons are seen talking about exchanging notes and their association with politicians. One sting video showed a man-whom Sibal identified as Rahul Retharekar-talking to the sting reporter and claiming he could exchange old notes and that there was a huge godown in Gujarat that had new notes. Retharekar, identified as a Field Assistant working for the Cabinet Secretariat, could also be seen in the sting video saying officials from 26 departments were involved in note exchange.

"This man was dismissed by the government for his suspected involvement in the money exchange case. However, no inquiry was done to find out about all those involved in it," said Sibal.

Citing a video, Sibal added that officials of a private bank in Mumbai were also connected to the scam."Ever since I spoke about these sting videos, the government has been silent," he added.

 

 

The Times of India, April 28, 2019

 

 

BJP fields record no. of Muslim nominees

Mateen Hafeez





The BJP has fielded the maximum candidates ever for the Malegaon Municipal Corporation election, slated for May 24. The party has put candidates in 77 of the corporation's 84 seats, with over 45 of the contestants being Muslim. For the BJP , this is a record number of tickets to Muslim candidates anywhere in the country in a single election. In the words of an observer, it looks like the BJP is set to test the `Modi wave' in a minority-dominated city .
As for the others, the Congress, the biggest party in Malegaon, has fielded 73 candidates, followed by the NCP-Janata Dal (Secular) combine, which has put 66 contestants in the fray . The Hyderabad-based and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All-India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting in Malegaon for the first time, and has fielded 37 candidates. The Shiv Sena has fielded 25 candidates. During the last Malegaon civic polls (2012), as many as 24 BJP candidates contested, but all lost, 12 losing their deposits.

Malegaon, in Nashik district, has a population of 4.71 lakh (as per the 2011 census), with 65% Muslims and the rest mainly Hindus. Both communities are dependent on each other economically: Muslims work in power looms while Hindus trade in textiles.

During scrutiny , many forms were rejected. So, the number of BJP candidates has gone down to 58, which includes 29 Muslims. Political observers say that it will be tough for the BJP to fight with the Congress and the NCP in Malegaon, since the saffron party's candidates don't have a strong local grounding. But Shabbir Baba, the vice-president of the BJP's local minority cell, said the party hopes to secure seven to eight seats. “We have selected candidates knowing they can win,“ he said.

The BJP's candidates include Faheem Mehmood, a commerce graduate and fish trader. “Our agenda is development and we have been working at it. We hope voters will elect us,“ he said. Another can didate, Shamshad Bi (48), who studied up to Class III, owns a grocery shop. Yet another, Sugra Bi (32), a Class VIII dropout, is a wholesale onion seller.Citing variety , Baba said, “We have also given a ticket to Shaheen Parveen (28), a science graduate who owns her own laboratory . We have good candidates.“

The Congress's main poll plank is development, and the NCP-JDS combine's is corruption. While social media is playing an active role, voters are worried. “Several candidates are distributing money to buy votes. No party has any development plan. Every party is blaming rivals. If we look back 15 years, we will find the same parties, the same faces and the same issues,“ said Mujahid Sultan, who comes from a prominent business family.

The BJP's Malegaon president, Sunil Gaikwad, said the party is contesting for “vikas“.“In the 2012 civic polls, we could not secure any seats. And in the last parliamentary elections, Malegaon gave only 5,000 votes to Dr Subhash Bhamre, who is now Union minister of state (defence). Talking of his party's “contribution“ to Malegaon, Gaikwad said CM Devendra Fadnavis sanctioned and inaugurated a flyover built with a budget of Rs 22 crore.

The Times of India, May 18, 2017