From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru. Dec 30: That BJP leaders in West Bengal deposited huge sums of money just days and hours before demonetisation in Kolkata or that the party purchased lands in several districts of Bihar is known. But now former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior Congress Leader PrithvirajChavansuspected the decision of banning cooperative banks from doing business to the deposit of Rs 500 crore in one the Ahmedabad district cooperative banks, in which National BJP President Amit Shah is a director.

"Is the ban on cooperative banks from doing business, which has hurt the rural economy very badly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat, has anything to do with Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank having Amit Shah as the director and the deposit of Rs 500 crore,’’ he asked. 

Amit Shah

Talking to reporters in Bengaluru on Friday, he said the party would like to know the details from the Government.

Chavan said he had never said Shah had deposited Rs 500 crore in the said cooperative bank.

"I only said Shah is a director in one of the Ahmedabad cooperative banks. I didn't say he deposited the money himself. The money was deposited in that bank," he clarified.

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister further alleged that the decision to ban cooperative banks from doing business was taken three days after Rs 500 crore was deposited in one of the Ahmedabad cooperative banks, in which Shah is a director.

"Interestingly, three days after Rs 500 crore was deposited in the bank, there was a ban imposed on cooperative banks from doing business," he said pointing out that the ban on cooperative banks from accepting money was a big blow to the farmers.

Chavan said the Congress had demanded white paper and also a Joint Parliamentary Committee enquiry into the deposits made in all the banks on or before November eight, and also deposits made immediately later.

Chavan also demanded the Gujarat government to release the CDs of the CCTV cameras installed at the Ashram Road Branch of the cooperative bank.

"Let the government release the CDs of CCTV cameras that were present at the Ashram Road Branch. It is a headquarter branch of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank," he said.

Asked whether the Congress has sought explanation from former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for calling Sahara-Birla diaries fictitious, Chavan said, Dikshit has clarified and told Congress party that everyone whose names are in the diaries should be investigated.

Further referring to the issue, Chavan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should inform the country over the status of the investigation conducted by tax authorities.

When Sheila Dikshit had said let the investigation go on, he asked if the Prime Minister stopped the investigation? Is the investigation on? Is there any interim report? He should take the country into confidence.

The Congress leader demanded an answer from the Prime Minister, who claims to be waging a war against corruption and black money. ``What prevents the Prime Minister from agreeing to a probe if he is not involved?," he asked.