Benami property act shouldn't harrow people, says Shiv Sena

Mumbai: After expressing its displeasure over demonetisation, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the proposed law against ‘benami’ properties would not hit the common man. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has been criticising the Centre’s demonetisation drive, saying the common man has suffered the most.

“Modi launched a surgical strike against black money to weed out money stashed abroad. But the truth is, not a single penny has been recovered. The rich of the country have incurred not even a dime’s loss after demonetisation, whereas the common man has been harried,” an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.

Vowing to carry forward the war against corruption and black money post-demonetisation, Mr Modi had said on Sunday that the government would soon operationalise a strong law to effectively deal with ‘benami’ properties.

“Now what is the government’s plan against benami properties? We hope that the middle class citizens are not crushed under the harsh steps taken by the government as was the case after demonetisation. We hope that the real benami property holders do not legalise their properties while the common man is stripped naked,” the ruling alliance partner said.

The Sena added that the steps taken against black money holders had in fact had an adverse effect on the common people. Once an announcement on benami properties is made, those who possess estates would convert all of it into “white” within 24 hours, like the hundreds of crores of rupees that were converted into “white” after demonetisation, the Sena said.

“It seems that laws are only meant to safeguard the rich, while the poor get crushed under them,” the Sena said further. The party also said that those who were hailing the surgical strike across the LoC have now stopped doing so after continued attacks by the neighbouring nation killed over 50 soldiers since the Indian military action.

The Sena also sought to know from the government if it would ensure that Kashmiri Pandits get their “fair share” of land back in Kashmir before it starts accumulating ‘benami’ properties.