‘Selective’ leaks bid to stall PCC reshuffle: Capt

NEW DELHI: Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the government for “selectively” raising his family’s alleged foreign bank accounts in the black money episode, terming the move a “desperate” attempt by the Akali-BJP coalition in Punjab to stall the Congress state unit’s reshuffle.

"They (BJP and Akalis) are desperate to stop the Punjab Congress’ reorganisation, which is imminent. Why else would they selectively target me and my family when the government claims it has the details of 1,200 foreign bank accounts?" — Capt Amarinder Singh, Cong Deputy Leader in LS

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25

Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the government for “selectively” raising his family’s alleged foreign bank accounts in the black money episode, terming the move a “desperate” attempt by the Akali-BJP coalition in Punjab to stall the Congress state unit’s reshuffle.

Speaking to The Tribune today, the former Punjab Chief Minister said neither his wife Preneet Kaur nor his son Raninder Singh held any foreign accounts. “Someone needs to ask them (BJP and Akalis) why they always raise this matter on the eve of elections. First it was in 2011 ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections and now it is again on the eve of the 2017 poll,” he said.

“They are desperate to stop the Punjab Congress’ reorganisation, which is imminent. Why else would they selectively target me and my family when the government claims it has the details of 1,200 foreign bank accounts? My family does not hold any such account and we have been repeatedly clarifying this before the income tax authorities since 2011.”

Asked if the issue could delay the Punjab Congress reshuffle considering he himself was in the race to head the unit, he said, “I don’t think the announcement will be stalled…. The NDA regime wants to help the SAD-BJP alliance.”

Capt Amarinder separately issued a statement to clarify his family’s stand on what he called “selective leaks in the matter against him”. He said the government’s motive in seeking selective information from Swiss authorities about his wife and son’s purported accounts “was suspect”.