Don't politicise black money: Pranab to Advani

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader 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.

Mukherjee´s comments came on the day when LK Advani had moved an adjournment motion on the issue of black money in the Lok Sabha.

Advani said 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.