New Delhi: Identity of 427 account holders abroad has been established and 250 of them have admitted to having accounts, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley revealed today while asserting that the government is on the right track in bringing back illicit money stashed abroad.
Replying to a debate on black money in the Rajya Sabha, he said the government will “pro-actively chase” those having black money and will not rest till the last account is identified.
Bringing back black money stashed abroad is a procedure which will take time, he said while responding to attack by Opposition which questioned non-fulfillment of the poll promise of BJP leaders of getting the illicit money back in 100 days.
He, however, did not respond to the Opposition attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reportedly saying in the run up to elections that each person will get Rs 15-20 lakh if all the black money is brought back.
Members of Congress, Trinamool Congress, JD(U), Samajwadi Party and CPM, staged a walkout even before Jaitley could conclude his reply.
During the discussion in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Congress alleged that BJP had “sold lies” and misled the nation for which the government should apologise.
Spelling out the steps being taken by the government, Jaitley referred to the HSBC list of 627 account holders received by the government and said identity of 427 of them has been established. 250 of them have admitted to having accounts, making the government's task easier, he added.
Replying to opposition criticism, he said, “We have done more in 100 days than what other governments had done.”
The confidentiality clause prevents disclosure of names of foreign account holders unless prosecution is launched against them in a court of law, he noted.
