New Delhi: The assets of at least three union ministers have increased since they assumed office five months ago, a joint statement by the National Election Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms said Friday. The highest increase in assets in five months was shown by Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
“His assets have shown an increase of Rs.10.46 crores, from Rs.9.88 crores as declared in Lok Sabha 2014 elections to Rs. 20.35 crores in the 2014 declarations of the Union Council of Ministers to the Prime Minister’s Office,” the statement said.
The watchdogs said 41 or 91 percent of the union ministers are crorepatis as per their declarations to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Jaitley was the richest at Rs.114.03 crore, followed by Harsimrat Kaur Badal at Rs. 108.31 crores and Piyush Goyal at Rs. 94.66 crores. The statement said that 16 ministers have shown a decrease in assets.
“External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj showed a decrease of Rs.3.89 crores (from Rs.17.55 crores declared in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections).
She is followed by Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region V.K. Singh who declared a decrease of Rs.3.13 crores (from 4.11 crores declared in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections).
He is followed by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan who declared a decrease of Rs. 1.28 crores,” the statement said.
D.V. Sadananda Gowda : transaction above board
Union Railways minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said however that the transaction was in the public domain.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he said: “Everything is in black and white. After I got elected as MP and before becoming as Union minister, I bought a property from M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Management (MSRIM) on new BEL Road (a prime locality in Bengaluru). I took a loan of Rs eight crore from Federal Bank and two crore rent advance from MSRIM.
Therefore, my asset value has gone up in the last five months. I have put this information in public domain, this clearly shows it is a legal transaction.”
