The BJP on Saturday said the next government must set up a commission to probe the "cover-up" in the Bofors payoff case.
Accusing the Congress-led UPA government of allowing Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi to go "scot-free" in the Rs 64 crore Bofors payoffs case, the BJP on Saturday said the next government must set up a commission to probe the "cover-up" in the matter.
Senior BJP leader Arun Shourie said that the way "laws are being bent" by the government and PM Manmohan Singh is "shutting" his eyes, India has been reduced to a "banana republic".
"For convenience of one individual, the law is bent. Prime minister always pleads his helplessness or says he did not know. This is what defines a banana republic," he said at a seminar on 'Exposing nexus of corruption, Swiss Banks and tax havens" organised by the Chartered Accountants Cell of the party here.
He said that the Congress-led government had earlier allowed Quattrocchi to escape from the country. Shourie alleged the present government has done a lot of "cover-up" to help the Italian businessman, an Interpol Red Corner Notice against whom has been withdrawn after CBI recommendations.
"The next government must set up a commission to go into the cover-up in this case by this government," Shourie said.
Asked whether the CBI could put Quattrocchi's name back in the most wanted list, Shourie said "yes".
"Remedial action is alway possible. The court should ask the CBI under what circumstances Quattrocchi's name was taken off the list," he said.
Regarding illegal money being stashed away to foreign banks, Shourie said that a multilateral approach is required to bring back the wealth.
Quoting media reports, he said that German government has provided names of 50 Indians who have deposited illegal money in tax havens.
"Now the government need to sign multi-lateral agreement with the foreign governments to catch those who are taking away the national wealth," he said.
He said a small country like Ireland got back the black money stashed away by its national in foreign banks. India can succeed in the mission if efforts are made now.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}