PM to Pranab: Spell out govt line on black money abroad
After a rap by the Supreme Court, the Union Cabinet on Thursday took up the issue of black money stashed in foreign banks. PM Manmohan Singh himself raised the issue, saying the government’s stand must be spelt out after the court’s observations made media headlines.
Sources said Dr Singh directed finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold a press conference and make the government’s viewpoint known. Mr Mukherjee agreed to do this. The court had referred to black money stashed in foreign bank accounts as a “mind-boggling theft of national wealth”.
Several ministers had noted that the government was facing flak from almost all quarters and the impression was gaining ground that it had something to hide on the issue, the sources said. Dr Singh noted the government could not disclose the names of those it believed had foreign bank accounts as it was bound by various treaties. Mr Mukherjee said the government received information about black money in foreign banks as per international treaties, and if these details were revealed, no government would share such details in future, the sources said.
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