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This story is from November 26, 2014

Arun Jaitley on black money: Don't make it NDA vs UPA issue

"The issue is not whether to disclose the names of black money account holders or not, but when and how to disclose them," FM Arun Jaitley said.
Arun Jaitley on black money: Don't make it NDA vs UPA issue
NEW DELHI: Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that bringing back black money is more important than making it an issue between the NDA vs UPA.
Responding to the debate on the issue of black money in the Rajya Sabha, the finance minister said that the government is raising its capacity to deal with black money issue.
"It is good to see that everyone wants to see work done on the issue of black money," the FM said.

The government is following the Supreme Court directions on black money issue, the FM said.
"In June, we handed over whatever details we had in the black money case to the two judges heading the SIT," Arun Jaitley said.
"In this age, no one physically carries black money abroad," the FM added.
"The issue is not whether to disclose the names of black money account holders or not, but when and how to disclose them," Jaitley said.
"The government has identified holders of 427 accounts abroad, notices have been sent to them," the FM said. "250 people have admitted having accounts abroad," the FM added.

Earlier, the issue of repatriating black money placed in banks abroad was again in focus in Parliament for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.
The opposition repeatedly disrupted proceedings both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha over the issue of black money.
The Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned because of a ruckus created over this issue as also on a Congress demand for the renaming of Hyderabad Airport.
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had to warn Trinamool Congress members against repeating Tuesday's umbrella protest in the House.
READ ALSO: TMC uses black umbrellas in LS to protest over black money

TMC MPs protest over black money issue during the winter session of Parliament. (PTI photo)
When opposition MPs staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha, Mahajan decided to hold a discussion on the issue of black money at 3pm.
Mahajan rejected a demand for a vote on the issue, as also a demand for the suspension of Question Hour.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said his party is ready for an immediate discussion on the black money issue.
Jay Panda of BJD saids, "Government has expressed they are ready for discussion over black money issue, now it should be listed & discussed in detail in Parliament.
"We are determined for a positive functioning of Parliament, we are ready for discussion over any issue," says MA Naqvi, minister of state for parliamentary affairs.
Tariq Anwar of the NCP said, "NDA govt had promised to get black money in 100 days, they must tell the nation what is the progress made on the issue."
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) had on Tuesday raised the issue of black money both inside and outside Parliament holding black umbrellas.
It was backed by the Janata Dal (U), which also moved a motion calling for the suspension of Question Hour and seeking a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the issue.
A united Opposition alleged that the Narendra Modi government has not fulfilled its poll promise to bring back black money in 100 days.
Opposition corners government in Rajya Sabha
Opposition leaders attacked the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over the issue of bringing back black money as a debate on the issue was taken up in the Rajya Sabha.
The main opposition Congress launched an attack on the government, and said that the real work in getting information on black money stashed abroad was done by the previous Congress-led government.
Initiating the debate on black money in the upper house, Congress leader Anand Sharma also questioned the BJP's poll promise of bringing back black money in 100 days.
Sharma named Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Baba Ramdev in his speech and said the protests were orchestrated. "An atmosphere was created before the election and it was used against the government in office. Protests were orchestrated by opposition," Sharma said.
"The country was misled and a perception was created... They said Rs 15 lakh will come to every account," he said, questioning where is the money.
He slammed the BJP-led government for taking the credit for formation of the SIT (special investigation team).
"The SIT was ordered by Supreme Court, it is wrong for government to take credit," he said.

"Our government was not given any credit. We signed so many agreements and treaties to get the information... Whatever information the government has today was brought by our government," he said.
Hitting out directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sharma said: "In all his pre-poll rallies, the Prime Minister said Rs 85 Lakh crore was in banks abroad. Now the Prime Minister says he does not know about it".
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien also slammed the Prime Minister calling his campaign an "advertisement".
"A multi-billion dollar advertising campaign was run before the election, the product was BJP - Bharatiya Janata Product. They made certain promises in the campaign... but you are not delivering," he said.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said mere lip service will not help the BJP government.
"Just talking about it will not help, government needs to do something. Where is the money, bring it back, punish some people," he said.
(With inputs from IANS, ANI)
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