Bringing back black money is Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’

Addressing people across India in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, Modi said that the money belongs to the poor and whatever the amount deposited in foreign banks, the government will leave no stone unturned to bring it back to the country.

‘I assure you that there will be no shortcomings in my effort. I want your blessings to remain. I don’t know how much money is stashed abroad, but I will bring every single penny back,’ he said.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said unauthorised disclosure of the names of black money account holders could sabotage its very investigation and affect the Indian economy too. In a blog on his official Facbook page titled, ‘Confidentiality clauses and the battle for tracing black money outside India’, the finance minister wrote unauthorised disclosure of information was fraught both with the investigation and economic consequences. ‘They can sabotage the investigation. They can attract sanctions in the form of withholding taxes,’ said Jaitley.

Meanwhile in his radio address, the prime minister said, ‘I want to share something and I am sure people trust me when I say this. It is about black money. Please trust this Pradhan Sevak. The issue is an article of faith for me. From what I am understanding and the information I have, I am telling you that we are in the right direction.’

He also hailed the Swachhta Abhiyan, saying that good results are now visible.