Hang the corrupt politicians, thunders Elder
SHILLONG: Rajya Sabha member and senior Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani has criticized the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for not fulfilling its promise of bringing back black money stashed away in foreign bank accounts.
Addressing the valedictory session of the national seminar on current challenges before the legal profession and judiciary organised by the Bar Association of India and Shillong High Court Bar Association here on Saturday, Jethmalani , without naming anyone from BJP, said that certain leaders from the party had promised to give Rs 15 lakh to each and everyone in the country if they are voted to power in 2014, but after the election, it turned out to be a “political jumla”
Jethmalani, who was expelled from BJP for six years in 2013 for being critical on BJP leadership, had taken up the issue of black money with the Supreme Court in 2009.
Recalling an incident, Jethamalani , the former Union Minister, said that he was following up the issue of black money with German authorities and they had asked him to bring back signatures of four Opposition members to release the names of the people who have Swiss bank accounts.
According to Jethmalani, he had approached BJP leader LK Advani in this regard and after few days, when he inquired about the signature, Advani told him that he forgot to sign and same was the response from others whom he had approached for signature to get the details of the Swiss bank account holders.
The senior lawyer said that he had filed a case in the Supreme Court and later the Court in its order observed that no effort was made by anybody to bring back the black money.
The Rajya Sabha member also slammed the top politicians of India like Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former Home Minister P Chidambaram and BJP leader Advani over the long pending issue of bringing back black money.
Hang the corrupt politicians
The Rajya Sabha has also lambasted the corrupt political and executive class of the country for creating problems in judiciary even as he advocated that those who are corrupt should be hanged till death.
He said that it is the dishonest politicians and executives who create biggest problem for judges.
According Jethmalani, several commission reports had clearly stated that India requires 16 times more number of judges than the present strength.
He also added that there is a need to ensure more number of judges in Assam where the BJP will form the new Government.
Jethmalani who completed his 75 years of legal practice last month, said that if there is a next life, he would like to be a teacher of law rather than practitioner of law.
Later, Meghalaya Governor V Shanmuganathan asked the legal fraternity to understand the pain of people and try to relieve their agonies.
Stating that North East has its own unique characteristics, the Governor said that a lot of service oriented initiatives are being taken in the North region to empower the people.
Earlier, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh also spoke on the occasion and a souvenir was released.