New Delhi, December 14: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday defended the government saying it was doing its best to bring back black money stashed abroad.
“Yes there are black money stashed in tax havens. The govt is putting best of its efforts to bring the money back”, Muherjee said replying to an adjournment motion on black money in Lok Sabha moved by BJP.
BJP’s adjournment motion on black money was defeated by a voice vote.
The Finance Minister said that at this point in time it is not possible to disclose the names of all black money holders.
Earlier, senior BJP leader LK Advani, who moved the adjournment motion on black money issue in the Lok Sabha demanded that the government should reveal the names of black money holders and act against the guilty.
Reports said France had disclosed names of around 782 Indian nationals who have illegal accounts.
According to reports of Swiss Bankers Association India, black money worth 19,000 billion of US dollar is stashed in tax heavens but the Finance Minister said that the Indian authorities are yet to trace the organisation and establish its authenticity.
Also the figure contradicts with that of the BJP which pegs the black money stashed abroad at Rs 25 lakh crore.
“Amount stashed in foreign banks is not known. We need to know the authentic figure”, the Finance Minister said questioning the authenticity of the black money figures.
The Finance Minister called upon the opposition parties to join with the government in its “fight” against black money.
“I welcome Advani’s yatra if it was against black money,” he said.
—-Agencies