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Budget session: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today responded sharply to Rahul Gandhi's "Fair and Lovely" remark on income disclosure scheme and reminded Congress of its "own track record" of bringing a scheme in 1997 under which there was no penalty for disclosure of black money – FM was intervening in the debate in Rajya Sabha on Motion of Thanks on President's address. (AP)
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1. Arun Jaitley on black money: Government has no hesitation in releasing names of those accused of possessing black money, but it would do so as per procedure and once criminal cases are registered against them. (AP)
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FM Jaitley asserted that the probe is being done in a "very impartial" way and rejected demands from Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that he should "recuse" himself from the matter. (Source: AP)
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3. Arun Jaitley on black money: "When you make comments on steps we are taking on black money, please honestly consider your track record," Jaitley said attacking the Congress whose Vice President had last week alleged in Lok Sabha that the disclosure scheme was "Fair and Lovely" to allow conversion of black money into white. (AP)
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4. Arun Jaitley on black money: To hit back, Jaitley referred to a similar scheme in 1997 announced by then Finance Minister P Chidambaram. "Some comments were made with regard to the income disclosure scheme that we have just announced. Compare it with what had happened in the past. In the past you had several schemes…When your leaders criticise us, they should realise what had happened in the past," Jaitley said. (AP)
Yielding to the pressure, Jaitley used the first opportunity available to roll back the proposals, without even waiting for the Budget discussions to be completed. (AP) -
6. Arun Jaitley on black money: Pointing to Chidambaram's scheme which saw many honest tax payers being taken to court, the finance minister said, "An amnesty scheme in which people were asked to just pay 30 per cent tax and declare it by paying at 1987 income tax rates. (AP)
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7. Arun Jaitley on black money: On disclosure of names of black money, Jaitley said, "We cannot make the names of black money holders public at will. Revealing details will take time…but, people not disclosing black money, will be dealt with strictly and punished." (AP)
US announces mandatory visa Integrity fee on all non-immigrant visas
