NDA will ask its leaders to declare assets

Pledging to set an example in the fight against black money, the BJP-led NDA said it would direct its MPs, chief ministers and seniormost party leaders to declare their assets and asked the government to make all efforts to bring back Indian slush funds stashed in tax havens. Senior NDA leaders held a press conference to present the report of a task force that was appointed by the BJP to look into the issue of black money stashed abroad. “After discussing recommendations of the report, the NDA leaders decided that it would be appropriate that all those holding political office — whether MPs, leaders of political parties recognised by the Election Commission, or even central office-bearers of political parties—should be obligated to tell the government that we have no money abroad,” NDA chairperson L K Advani said. The opposition alliance also demanded that the government ratify the UN convention against corruption by the end of the Budget session of Parliament. The convention has already been approved by most of the UN member nations, and India is among the 14 countries which have not ratified it, Advani said.