Shiv Sena: Nirav Modi is BJP's "partner," funded their poll-campaign
What's the story
Shiv Sena and BJP's rivalry continues to simmer even as they remain coalition partners.
Now, Sena has alleged that Nirav Modi, accused for the Rs. 11,400cr Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has been BJP's "partner," helping it collect election-funds.
In a Saamna editorial, Sena declared that PM Narendra Modi has failed to stick to his promise of ending corruption.
Here's more about it.
Background
What is the Nirav Modi-PNB scam?
Recently, India's second-largest public-sector lender PNB shockingly announced fraudulent transactions worth Rs. 11,400cr at a single branch in Mumbai.
It claimed that diamond Czar Nirav Modi's companies had colluded with their bank staff, foreign and national, to get credit through "letters of undertaking" (LoUs) without a sanctioned credit limit or maintaining funds "on margin."
Later, CBI registered a case against those involved.
Sena's theory
Now, what is Sena claiming?
Now, Sena has claimed that Nirav was seen with PM Modi a few weeks ago during World Economic Forum, Davos. It alleged that Nirav is BJP's "partner" and "was at the forefront in helping BJP collect funds for their elections."
Further, it said there were many such "Nirav Modis." It argued that authorities took action and sealed properties only after Nirav left the country.
Corruption
Sena slams PM Modi for "lying" about tackling corruption
Moreover, Sena added that "while politicians like Chhagan Bhujbal and Lalu Yadav were behind bars, liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fled the country under the government's nose."
It contended that "Modi's election slogan 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga' proved ineffective. Farmers are committing suicide as they cannot repay their Rs. 100/500 debts, but here people have absconded after swindling lakhs of crores."
Publicity-blitz
Sena also claims NDA-government is running a publicity blitz
Further, referring to BJP's habit of making a spectacle of events, Sena said that NDA government was just being run by spending thousands of crores on advertisements.
It lamented that, "When a person like ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan spoke about the loot perpetrated in the country, he was shunted out. Now, install Nirav as the RBI Governor to finish off the country."