Thiruvananthapuram: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday slammed the Congress and said it was attacking the BJP with fake fake, fictitious, manufactured documents. She said that the opposition was indulging in desperate measures as the elections were nearing.
She was in Thiruvanathapuram to launch the poll campaign of former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan. The Union Minister was responding to question on the Congress and other opposition parties releasing a video on Tuesday showing a BJP leader exchanging old notes after demonetisation on a commission of 40 per cent. However, the authenticity of the 30-minute footage was not vouched for.
Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had alleged that the video was filmed by some journalists in Ahmedabada and that it shows a BJP leader exchanging money purportedly after 31 December 2016. It was the time given by the government to exchange old notes after it demonetised high-value notes on 8 November. However, Sibal did not provide any other proof to support his claims.
Sitharaman said, “Of late, haven’t you all noticed, the Congress party in its desperation, releases a page of a diary or a so called diary, releases something else, all based on fictitious, fake, manufactured documents, which are each day rebutted by no less than Finance minister, Arun Jaitley, himself. Literally every day. Much before light dawns on those fake allegations, rebuttals are given with substantive facts.” The Congress would not make any difference in this election she stated.
The Defence minister also lashed out at Sibal and said his comments had no basis. “He (Sibal) was the same person who when he was a minister called the loss that the government faced in 2G scam, inspite of CAG report pointing out the loss, a zero loss,” she said.
“It’s a sign of desperation. They’re just not going to make any difference in this election. Let them work to retain their 44 seats,” she said.
Speaking at the campaign she also slammed the ruling CPI(M) party for the prevailing chaotic situation in Kerala.