Instead of gold hunt in UP, bring Swiss bank money back:Modi to centre

Chennai, 18 October 2013

Taking a dig at the Centre for its “gold hunt in UP, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Friday urged the Government to bring back the illegal money allegedly stashed in Swiss banks.

“The Government has started to dig for some 1,000 tonnes gold, after someone dreamt of it. You bring back the money that the looters have stashed in Swiss banks. That would be more than the value of 1,000 tonnes of gold,” Modi said while addressing BJP workers on his arrival here on a day’s visit to Chennai.

The Gujarat Chief Minister was apparently mocking at the excavation work being undertaken by Archaeological Survey of India in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh to hunt for a gold treasure on the basis of a dream by a seer who had predicted about 1,000 tonnes of gold in that area.

Modi said the deadly Cyclone Phailin which hit parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar did not destroy much as it was feared, but the country was witnessing a cyclone of change to ensure a ‘Congress mukth Bharat’.

He said he has been witnessing a wave of change in the country, including in Tamil Nadu to change the Government at the Centre.

The union government has issued following note on excavation:

Proposed Archaeological Excavation at Sangrampur (Daundia Khera), District Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.

On the basis of reports received Superintending Archaeologist, ASI (Lucknow Circle) was asked to conduct a preliminary site enquiry. In the meantime Geological Survey of India had also been asked to conduct an enquiry including GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Survey). Report of the preliminary investigations of GSI was received from the Ministry of Mines on 8th October, 2013 (the GSI report mentions “this prominent non-magnetic anomalous zone occurring at 5-20 m depth indicative of possible non conducting, metallic contents and/or some alloys, etc. may be tested by excavation for further interest at the specified site”).

On the basis of GSI report it was decided by ASI to undertake excavations at the site to try to unearth and determine the nature of the reported deposits. It is also noteworthy to mention that this is reported to be an ancient settlement site which may have the potential of being an important archaeological location. The SA (Lucknow Circle) was conveyed permission on 10th October, 2013 to undertake the trial exploration/excavations by deputing a full team from his office.

Preparatory arrangements have been made by ASI Lucknow Circle, including preliminary survey of the area, establishing camp office, removal of vegetation, etc. The local administration has been informed about this and security arrangements have also been provided.

The excavation work has commenced from 18th October, 2013 and it is estimated to take a minimum 2 to 3 weeks to reach the reported level of deposits.