PULLING OUT SWISS BANK MONEY – IS IT JUST ANOTHER ELECTION ISSUE ?

Obviously, it is the time for our political parties to create hype and bring some issues to the forefront as the process of parliamentary elections is already on. The agenda chalked out by various political parties in their Election Manifesto is such that if they are elected to power, they will definitely forget to implement the manifesto. Moreover it will not be a possibility to implement the manifesto as single party governance is not at all possible in India at present juncture. Since multi-party partnership governance is likely in India, considering the different agendas in the election manifesto, some being contradictory to each other, one cannot expect the ensuing Government to fulfill the election manifesto in Toto. Even then the political parties stick to their manifesto during campaign and claim that they will definitely adhere to the agenda chalked out by them, even though they know it is impossible. Is it not a mockery of our democracy?

To say in brief, Bharatiya Janata Party claims that it will pull out Indian black money from Swiss Banks. This is one of the agenda in the election manifesto of BJP, which has been a subject matter of hot discussions now-a-days. It is a well known fact that India tops in the list of highest deposits made in Swiss Banks. One estimation reveals that the deposits by Indians in Swiss Banks amounts to around $5.7 billion.

Considering L K Advani’s demand of bringing back ‘Indian black money’ allegedly lying in Swiss banks, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP’s youth wing, has planned to organise a public vote at 100 locations in the Capital on the issue on April 6 — the anniversary of the BJP’s inception.
Leader of the Opposition L K Advani had made the demand on Sunday saying Indians had around $5.7 billion in Swiss banks. The amount should be brought back home and used for development activities in India.

The questionnaire prepared by the BJYM has five questions for voters. Do they know that India’s black money is deposited in Swiss banks? Do they agree with the BJP that the money should be brought back to India? Which party do they think can bring back the money? If the black money in Swiss banks is the reason for corruption and political instability? Can the money be used to clear the country’s debt and for eradication of poverty?

After all whose money is this lying in various Swiss Banks ? Who are the depositors and beneficiaries of this unaccounted black money ? Will the BJP be able to do this task if it gains power at the Center ? These are the questions that haunt the common voters. It is the general opinion that this is just another political gimmick to attract the attention of common voters. Is it ?