Funds in Swiss banks: Opposition leaders say Modi government has failed to bring back black money
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy appeared to blame Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia for the rise in deposits.
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly failing to keep his promises about curbing black money in the country. Gandhi took a swipe at Modi after the Swiss National Bank’s annual report on Thursday said that Indian deposits in Swiss banks had increased 50% over the previous year to reach over Rs 7,000 crore in 2017.
Modi had in 2014 promised to bring back black money from Swiss banks and deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every Indian, Gandhi said, adding that the prime minister, in 2016, had claimed demonetisation would wipe out black money. But in 2018, Modi is claiming that the money in Swiss banks is “white” and not “black”, he said.
2014, HE said: I will bring back all the "BLACK" money in Swiss Banks & put 15 Lakhs in each Indian bank A/C.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2018
2016, HE said: Demonetisation will cure India of "BLACK" money.
2018, HE says: 50% jump in Swiss Bank deposits by Indians, is "WHITE" money. No "BLACK" in Swiss Banks! pic.twitter.com/7AIgT529ST
The Congress also criticised the Centre through its official Twitter handle. “Swiss bank deposits fell during Manmohan Singh’s time [as prime minister], only to rise to record levels under Modi,” the party said. “The current increase of 50.2% post demonetisation, is the maximum since 2004.”
Swiss Bank deposits fell during Dr. Manmohan Singh’s time, only to rise to record levels under PM Modi. The current increase of 50.2% post demonetisation, is the maximum since 2004. pic.twitter.com/Bl9TYh26OY
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 29, 2018
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted that the rise in funds parked in Swiss banks was not surprising. He claimed that the Modi government “writes off lakhs of crores of unpaid loans of crony corporates, businessmen flee India after looting public money under his watch”. He said Modi has merely “insulted and humiliated” Indians.
Indian money in Swiss banks rises 50% to over ₹7,000 cr in 2017: a fraction of Indian Black Money in Switzerland. Modi govt writes off lakhs of crores of unpaid loans of crony corporates, businessmen flee India after looting public money under his watch; this data is no surprise pic.twitter.com/8A43bcw4VG
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 28, 2018
From falsifying history to making new promises, Jumlaman has no time or intention to remember tall promises he made in 2014. From depositing 15 lakh in each bank account to making Rupee stronger to doubling farmers' income, he has only insulted & humiliated us Indians #BlackDays pic.twitter.com/x0LZaiBbfm
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 28, 2018
Communist Party of India leader D Raja demanded an explanation from the Centre, PTI reported.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a tweet: “Swiss money flying, India losing.”
The Aam Aadmi Party and lawyer Prashant Bhushan also criticised the government.
Bravo! #DeMonetisation?
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 29, 2018
Swiss Bank money flying. India losing.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, however, appeared to blame Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia for the increase in deposits.
Breaking News: Major success of Finance Secy Adhia. Secret Swiss Bank accounts deposits from global sources rose by 3% last 12 months. Indians deposits however grew 50% . Adhia would have managed more if Rajeshwar was not a distraction.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 29, 2018
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has claimed that the money parked in Swiss banks by “Indians” could have been deposited by Persons of Indian Origin with a foreign passport, Non-Residential Indians and Indian residents who made legitimate investments. He said that the Centre could only prosecute those who were Indian residents and had made illegal deposits.
Jaitley, who held the finance portfolio, is recuperating after a kidney transplant in May, while Piyush Goyal handles finance in his absence. Goyal on Friday claimed that India would receive all the data on black money from Switzerland by the end of the 2019 financial year.