BJP's black money issue is poll gimmick: Congress

Terming as 'poll gimmick' BJP stalwart LK Advani's claim that black money worth Rs 75 lakh crore from India was stashed in Swiss banks, Congress leader Anand Sharma on Monday asked him to share information with the government for its retrieval.

"Where did Advani get the information from? He should share it with the Union home minister and Union finance minister for the recovery of the money," Sharma, the Union minister of State for external affairs told reporters here.

He questioned the action Advani took to recover the money from foreign countries when he was the deputy prime minister and home minister during the NDA rule.

"Why was the NDA government sleeping over the matter when it was in power from 1998 to 2004?, he asked.

Stating that the Opposition had no issue to raise during the elections, Sharma said Advani was creating a sensation by quoting huge amounts like Rs 75 lakh crore black money being deposited in overseas banks.

"Congress is only trying to show the mirror to the BJP leaders on their past activities," he said.

Terming Advani's remark on prime minister Manmohan Singh as 'unwarranted and undignified', the Congress leader claimed that the prime minister had 'the guts to put his government at risk' in signing the civil nuclear deal with the USA.