Merged with EPS faction on Modi’s advice: OPS

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, who last year merged his faction of the AIADMK with that of chief minister E Palaniswami, has said that he had acted on a suggestion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at a party office-bearers’ meeting in Theni on Friday, the AIADMK coordinator said the issue came up during a courtesy meeting he had with Modi in New Delhi last year.

NEWDELHI: The Congress on Saturday made a direct allegation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley, saying “both were aware that the country was being looted” in the over ₹11,000 crore PNB scam.

The party also asked if the Prime Minister would order a probe in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud.

“Why is PM Modi refusing to disclose who travels with him on his official trips? Is this the kind of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ he talks about?” asked Congress leader Kapil Sibal. “Some corporates are among the private persons who travel with the PM on official trips. I want to ask ever since he (Modi) became PM, how many assets has Nirav Modi bought and how much loan has he taken.

“You will get to know that banks’ loans will be more and assets less. Will PM Modi order an inquiry in the PNB scam? These are all scams in the waiting,” he added.

Sibal also said: “You have institutionalised crony capitalism. They buy assets with our money and when they become defaulters, they flee the country.

“The kind of Ease of Doing Business Nirav Modi has done, India has become number one in Ease of Doing Business,” Sibal added.

He further challenged the BJP to compare their governance with that of the UPA’s. “Because of their ill intentions, they have brought India’s economy to its knees. BJP should be ashamed of calling 2G a scam. It should be ashamed of bringing country’s economy to its knees.

“What was PMO doing when big bank scams were happening? Finance ministry and PMO were aware that this country was being looted. We are making direct allegations against the Prime Minister and finance minister. They turned a blind eye. They knew that the country was being looted,” he added.

The party also questioned how investigative agencies permitted Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others to leave India.