Today is the day of accountability for the corrupt, says Union Minister Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: On a day it was voted to power three years ago, the BJP today said this was the day of accountability for the corrupt after government agencies searched Congress leader P Chidambaram's premises and properties allegedly linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal rejected Chidambaram's charge that he was being targeted for his columns critical of the government and claimed that the issue was why beneficiaries of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) gave "money to firms owned by his son".

"The former Union finance minister's columns did not exactly set the Yamuna on fire," Goyal told reporters. The CBI carried out searches at several places linked to former Union minister Chidambaram and his son Karti over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to a firm, INX Media, in 2007.

Also, the Income Tax department conducted raids on at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and others.

Goyal also said in its three years in power, the BJP has given an honest, scam-free government, a decisive leader and pro-poor thrust on governance. Goyal also claimed that for the first time ever, India "is the fastest growing large economy" in the world.