Indian names in Swiss bank data list: Assange

In comments that could fuel a fresh controversy over the black money issue, WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange today said there are Indian names in the Swiss bank data list that are going to be made public.

“Yes, there are Indian names in the data that we have already published or are going to publish. I can’t remember specifically whether there are Indian names in the coming publication. But I have read Indian names,” Assange told an Indian news channel.

Indicating that there are bigwigs among the Indians having their accounts in Swiss banks, he said, “Similarly, in these private Swiss banking concerns, where you need at least a million dollar, which is a significant amount of money...Not an average Indian...”.

Asked whether the names will come at any point, he said “You should absolutely not loose hope”.

He, however, declined to reveal anything more on the issue at this stage.

Noting that he has come to know through a report that there are more Indian deposits in the Swiss banks than any other nationality, Assange said, “There is no reason why India should not be aggressive.”

Praising German government for its aggressive approach to unearth black money stashed offshore, he said that India “should be more aggressive because India seems like it is loosing per capita much more tax than Germany.”