BJP accuses govt of 'failure' to bring back black money

New Delhi, May 1: Expressing concern over government's "failure" to bring back Indian

stashed abroad,

today wanted to know why the Centre was not taking up the matter with the Swiss authorities despite a change in laws there that allow sharing of such information.

"Earlier this year, Switzerland Government had passed RIA Act under which they will provide information about Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). Why is the UPA government not utilising this to get the required information? Is it intending to save any big political names?" BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy posed.

BJP leaders and activists like Ramdev have been raising the black money issue for the past several months. BJP leader LK Advani had even taken out a yatra across the country last year to spread awareness about this issue.

"On August 30, 2010 an agreement was reached with the government of Switzerland on the issue of black money, which was signed on April 1, 2011.... It is estimated that more than one lakh crore rupees have been deposited in foreign accounts," Rudy said.

He maintained that after coming to power in 2009, the UPA government had promised to bring back black money within 100 days. "Black Money is being deposited in the foreign accounts for the last 50 years. But this agreement is not providing information in this regard," Rudy said.

He claimed that the onus of proving that the black money stashed abroad lies with the Indian government, but it has "somehow not been able to prove it".

PTI