Black money: Govt wins adjournment motion

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Wednesday defeated the adjournment motion on the black money issue that was brought in by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch LK Advani at the Lok Sabha by a voice vote.

The Parliament witnessed severe debates and discussion over the issue the entire day as members from both the Congress and the BJP voiced their opinions on the issue.

Advani moved an adjournment motion on the issue of black money and said that the government is not proactive on the issue of black money and the offenders should be named.

"It is not me but the Supreme Court which said that the government is not as proactive as it should have been on the issue of black money," Advani said.

"The government had said it will publish a white paper on black money. I welcome a white paper on black money," he said with a tinge of sarcasm.

Replying to Advani´s remarks, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that black money is a serious issue and one should not ´politicise´ it.

Mukherjee said that he wants the Parliament to discuss on the issue and find a way of curbing black money.

Attacking LK Advani and his nationwide tour against corruption- ´Jan Chetna Yatra´, Mukherjee said: "Jan Chetna means to create social awareness. I will congratulate him (Advani) if it is achieved."

He said that it would be wrong to say that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was not serious about the ´black money´ matter.

"As the finance minister I want authentic figures on black money," he said.

Mukherjee said that government has five-pronged strategy to curb black money.

He said that the Indian government has contacted with Switzerland and they would give more information on the issue.

"I will bring a white paper and share all information; there is no conflict of interest on this issue," Mukherjee said.

The Finance Minister said that his list of tax-evaders does not have a name of any Member of the Parliament (MP).

LK Advani gave scathing reply to the Finance Minister and said that he was not satisfied with the explanations Mukherjee made on the black money issue.