Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Responds to Black Money Debate in Parliament: Highlights

New Delhi: Today, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley responded to the black money debate in Rajya Sabha.

Here are the highlights:

• We want the black money to be brought back.
• We took over half done job from UPA.
• It is everyone's wish that money siphoned off be brought back.
• UPA government didn't want Supreme Court to give any orders on this issue.
• Forming SIT was our first decision.
• 627 accounts were a part of HSBC. Liechtenstein accounts came to us via Germany.
• This issue is far more important than UPA versus NDA.
• We acted immediately on whistleblower's information
  
• In this age, no one physically carries the black money abroad. Some take it through Hawala and other ways.
• Switzerland said it wouldn't give information as this was stolen money.
• The automatic exchange of information would help us.
• 427 accounts, we have been able to identify very well. 250 of them have admitted to having foreign accounts.
• If we indulge in a populist, adventurist stance, this will help the account holders. The issue is not whether to disclose their names. The issue is when to disclose their names.
• The offence is committed in India and the money is Indian. The evidence is outside Indian shores. No government can march its police or investigating officers to another country. There is a prescribed procedure.
• We have made the disclosure to the Supreme Court.
• We have to ensure that we do not violate treaty of other countries.
• If we disclose the names publicly in a press conference without evidence, that will be a one-day thrill. 
• We are on a learning curve. 
• We are going to be on the right track even if it takes some time.
• I am giving the opposition the right to provoke but we will not be provoked.
• We are committed and sincere in our efforts to identify every account holder.
• If somebody has a legitimate account, it is his good fortune. 
• We are now in the process of passing assessment orders against those who have illegitimate account holders.
• We will be extremely proactive in taking these people to the task.
• We have done more in 100 days than other governments have done in the past.