State Congress chief spokesperson Arjun Modhwadia,on Friday,asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi to come out with a white paper on his foreign visit,including the one to Switzerland along with the states industrialists,in August 2007. He made these comments in reference to the issue of recovery of black money of Indians stashed in banks abroad,particularly in Swiss banks,raised by BJP leader L K Advani as also Modi. The state BJP recently conducted a referendum on the repatriation of black money to India. Modhwadia told mediapersons that Modi,along with 20 industrialists,had visited Switzerland on a chartered plane on August 2007,and had a discussion with the bankers there. The Congress leader said that Switzerland is not a country from where Gujarat could get investment,and in fact,no investment came to the state from Switzerland either before or after Modis visit. The Congress leader said that Switzerland is known for its tourism and investment of black money with bankers,who maintain secrecy under certain laws. So for what purpose did Modi go there? he said,asking for a white paper on his visit. He also sought details about the investments that came to the state after the visit. Or did he go there to facilitate the investment of black money of industrialists and money embezzled from the Sujalam-Sufalam water conservation project, Modhwadia added. Quoting the CAG report tabled in the state assembly,he said a discrepancy of over Rs 1,100 crore had been reported out of the Rs 2,200 crore spent on the project so far. Modhwadia said he had questioned the justification of Modis visit even in August 2007 and had also circulated a copy of a handout in this regard. The Congress leader said that Modi had also visited the UK and other European countries after the Surat floods of 2003.
