Kejriwal Criticizes Modi Govt. For Exempting Political Parties From Income Tax 

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday criticized the central government's move to exempt political parties from income tax while depositing demonetized currency notes and accused them of holding most of the black money.

Kejriwal's criticism came after the government on Friday exempted political parties from income tax while depositing old Rs 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.

"Most of the black money is in the hands of political parties," Kejriwal said, alleging that the recent move will help the political parties in changing black money into white.

Kejriwal also sought an "independent commission" to probe the accounts and source of funding of all political parties.

"You (Narendra Modi) talk of investigating the source of money if a common man deposits Rs 2.5 lakh individually but you exempt political parties from income tax on depositing crores of demonetized currency. This is not fair. We demand that an independent commission should be set up and the account details of all the political parties over the last five years should be probed to investigate their source of funding," Kejriwal said at a press conference here.

Kejriwal also targeted Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming it "a deal to hide unaccounted money".

He said the decision to demonetise the higher currency notes was "unconstitutional" as it barred people from withdrawing their own money.

"Modiji is busy in converting black money of the political parties into white. It is a big fraud against the nation," Kejriwal said.

The AAP convener maintained that his party was presenting each and every receipt to the income tax department and was maintaining transparency.

"The income tax returns of AAP since its formation until now are being investigated. We are not scared of any probe. What other parties including BJP are scared of?" Kejriwal asked.

IANS