NEW DELHI: The multicrore money laundering case unearthed in Pune figured in the Lok Sabha on Monday, when the Bharatiya Janata Party charged the United Progressive Alliance Government with orchestrating a "cover-up" operation.

"Reveal names"

Participating in a discussion on the Union budget, BJP deputy leader V.K. Malhotra asked the Government to reveal the names of politicians and bureaucrats who were alleged to be having links with the Pune stud-farm owner Hasan Ali.

According to the ongoing police investigations, Mr. Ali is said to have stashed away over Rs. 35,000 crore in Swiss bank accounts.

"Who are the politicians? Who are the bureaucrats, said to be known to Hasan Ali, being questioned by police in Pune? Why are names of all these persons not being made public," Mr. Malhotra asked while noting that, according to reports, some terrorists were also known to Mr. Ali.

Before turning to the budget proposals, Mr. Malhotra took a dig at Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying she could not "escape her responsibility" by merely "expressing concern" over issues such as rising prices and distance herself from the UPA Government's "failures." For, neither the Prime Minister nor the Finance Minister could take any decision without her consent.

Noting that "this is not a budget for aam aadmi," Mr. Malhotra asked the Government to explain the reasons for the spiralling prices of vegetables, pulses and various other commodities. It was because of the Government's "wrong policies" and flawed procurement process that hoarders were making profits at the expense of the common man.

The promises made by the ruling coalition in its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) were not being honoured and the salaried class was feeling "betrayed." "There is no mention of the 26-crore below poverty line people in the budget which is anti-poor and anti-common man." The budget would be more remembered for making cat and dog food cheaper, Mr. Malhotra said.

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