<p>Amid accusations that the National Democratic Alliance government was going soft and toeing the previous regime’s line on the black money issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured the country that recovering “every penny” from foreign tax havens was “an article of faith” for him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Recovery of black money from abroad is an article of faith and a commitment for me. Every penny that has gone will come back,” said Modi, sharing his thoughts with the citizens on All India Radio programme “Mann Ki Baat”.<br /><br />“Please trust your pradhan sevak. Every single rupee that the poor of the country has lost to people stashing black money abroad will be brought back,” he said. “There might be minor disagreements over the process through which black money is brought back. That is bound to happen in a democracy. But I can assure you that the government is on the right track in bringing back the black money,” added the prime minister. He had earlier said the Congress would be embarrassed if the black money account holders' list was revealed.<br /><br />Modi spoke on the issue in detail for the first time after taking over as prime minister in May. <br /><br />Poll promise<br /><br />During the Lok Sabha election campaign, bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks was one of the biggest promises Modi had made.<br /><br />However, after the BJP-led NDA government came to power, its response to the issue was criticised by the party's own leaders, other parties and the public, while the Supreme Court came down heavily on it for not revealing the names.<br /><br />The government subsequently revealed 627 names to the apex court, and the probe was handed over to the special investigation team headed by former Supreme court judge Justice M B Shah.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Modi went on to say on Sunday's programme: “The previous government, too, knew how much money was there outside India.”<br /><br />He also attempted to dispel the notion that the NDA government was trying to shield foreign bank holders, after the apex court had asked it as much. “There is no dearth of efforts to bring the black money back. I will do as much as possible,” he said.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Amid accusations that the National Democratic Alliance government was going soft and toeing the previous regime’s line on the black money issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured the country that recovering “every penny” from foreign tax havens was “an article of faith” for him.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Recovery of black money from abroad is an article of faith and a commitment for me. Every penny that has gone will come back,” said Modi, sharing his thoughts with the citizens on All India Radio programme “Mann Ki Baat”.<br /><br />“Please trust your pradhan sevak. Every single rupee that the poor of the country has lost to people stashing black money abroad will be brought back,” he said. “There might be minor disagreements over the process through which black money is brought back. That is bound to happen in a democracy. But I can assure you that the government is on the right track in bringing back the black money,” added the prime minister. He had earlier said the Congress would be embarrassed if the black money account holders' list was revealed.<br /><br />Modi spoke on the issue in detail for the first time after taking over as prime minister in May. <br /><br />Poll promise<br /><br />During the Lok Sabha election campaign, bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks was one of the biggest promises Modi had made.<br /><br />However, after the BJP-led NDA government came to power, its response to the issue was criticised by the party's own leaders, other parties and the public, while the Supreme Court came down heavily on it for not revealing the names.<br /><br />The government subsequently revealed 627 names to the apex court, and the probe was handed over to the special investigation team headed by former Supreme court judge Justice M B Shah.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Modi went on to say on Sunday's programme: “The previous government, too, knew how much money was there outside India.”<br /><br />He also attempted to dispel the notion that the NDA government was trying to shield foreign bank holders, after the apex court had asked it as much. “There is no dearth of efforts to bring the black money back. I will do as much as possible,” he said.<br />DH News Service</p>
