The issue of ferreting out the names of those who hold black money has been on cards for the last many years (“Black money,” govt. names industrialists,” Oct. 28). While the efforts of the government to convert black money into white are laudable, the fact is that with the passage of time, there is every chance of the recipients and account-holders escaping.
The report reminded me of the time when in February 2013, there was a disclosure of there being crores of black money in foreign banks. I sent an application under the RTI to the Prime Minister’s office asking what action was being taken. The reply came after a while: “No action was taken.”
T.V. Nageswara Rao,Visakhapatnam
It is really intriguing why the administration, irrespective of its political leanings, is dilly-dallying on the issue of black money. Vague and curious alibis that the fundamental right for privacy and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement are holding back attempts to bring back the money are totally unconvincing. If that be the case, can the government admit that all those foreign bank account- holders come under the purview of DTAA? Further, will the administration concede that the privacy clause under Article 21 applies to everyone including black money hoarders in India?
Haridasan Mathilakath,Kochi
The reluctance of the government to disclose the full list of those under the scanner is quite clear. The unsavoury fact is that most of our political parties are recipients of donations from these dubious persons (“Timblo donated to BJP, Cong.” Oct.28).
Vijaya Krishna Pillai G.,Alappuzha
Divulging three names is like two minutes of an action scene in a blockbuster film. Where are the big fish? When black money was one of the planks of the government’s election campaign, it should not vacillate on the issue.
Diwakar Tiwari,Satna, Madhya Pradesh
Since no politician has been included in the list, those who have been questioning the integrity of our leaders should hang their heads in shame. In fact, we must consider ourselves lucky that we are being ruled by honest persons!
P.G. Menon,Chennai
The “first list” is the equivalent of announcing the names of players of a “B” team in a sporting event. The government must play fair and reveal the full list. We want to know “who scored the maximum marks” in accumulating wealth.
A.P. Thiruvadi,Chennai
Revealing the names of three account-holders is a small step towards fulfilling the promise to reveal more. But the government is still indulging in an act of obfuscation and prevarication by not disclosing the big names, probably of politicians, who might have looted our wealth in collusion with officials. Let us not mock the first step towards cleansing the Augean stables.
Lakshman Ramamoorthy,Mumbai
Without appropriate legal back-up, the move to reveal names might backfire on the Indian government. Some countries might just stonewall on the issue once the government is seen to have violated its obligations and commitments to foreign governments in this regard. The best option would be to negotiate with tax havens and impose tax per annum on Indian account-holders. This will generate additional income.
Geethu Issac,Thiruvananthapuram
