Is bringing back black money anti-national, Gadkari asks

In the wake of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's remarks against the Opposition and civil society, Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari said on Monday her charges were baseless and sought to know if the Congress feels yoga guru Ramdev's demand for bringing back black money is anti-national.

"Sonia Gandhi's allegations against Ramdev are baseless. Is it anti-national to demand that Indian black money be brought back for the country's well-being? I feel she should not have done so. She should rise above party politics and work to save and free the country from price rise, poverty and hunger", Gadkari told reporters.

Gandhi had reportedly hit out at the Opposition and civil society activists at the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi. She had said baseless charges were being levelled by them against the prime minister, the United Progressive Alliance government and the Congress as part of a conspiracy.

"I am very sad and it is unfortunate that on an issue of national importance such baseless allegations have been levelled for political gains. This is not proper and the people of the country will not agree with her", Gadkari said.

Ramdev called on Gadkari on Monday to solicit his party's support for his fight to bring back black money and deal with corruption. Both appealed to Gandhi to look into the issue of bringing back black money as it would solve financial woes.

"It is necessary to bring back Indian black money for the poor, the farmers and the labourers as well as to deal with inflation and for dealing with economic problems. No politics should be brought into this. And Sonia Gandhi should cooperate in further building the environment to fight corruption", the BJP president said.

Gadkari also appealed other parties to join the movement and sign Ramdev's letter of support.

"I would also pray to Soniaji to understand this movement. This is not against any political party or individual. It is against black money. This is for the welfare of the people", Gadkari said.

The BJP extended its support to the fight to bring back Indian money and insisted it does not believe in making political gains from it.

"Our party is fully with his agitation and he has our full support. I want to clearly state that this movement is not of any political party. And the BJP believes that concern for the common people should be above politics for gaining power," Gadkari said.

The party said it will support all individuals and groups which are sincerely engaged in the fight against black money and corruption.

"The fight against black money is not a political agitation but a national agitation. We will support anybody who takes up this fight. Just as Mahatma Gandhi had told the British to go back, Ramdev is demanding that the black money be brought back," Gadkari said.

Ramdev said his was not a political agitation and he had reached out to all parties, including the Congress to seek their support.

"I have written to Sonia Gandhi, too, and sought an appointment. I will be meeting A B Bardhan (CPI), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena), Prakash Karat (CPI-M), Lalu Yadav (RJD) and Chandrababu Naidu (TDP)," Ramdev said.