TMC takes on Govt. on black money issue

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on the black money issue and alleged that the Centre talks more and does nothing.

"The event manager (Prime Minister) made a declaration to get back black money, but he is just giving long lectures and speeches. However, it is less content and more talks. The Prime Minister has first turned to BM (bluff master) and then to an EM (Event Manager)," TMC leader Derek O'Brien said.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said that the government's promise to bring back black money within 100 days has proved to be false.

"The promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party during the Lok Sabha elections to bring back black money in 100 days has proved to be false. They have not made any clear remark on the issue," she said.

Responding to the debate on black money issue in the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asserted that the Centre is committed to identify every black money account holder and said that the government has identified holders of 427 accounts abroad and notices have been sent to them.

Jaitley further said that automatic exchange of information is going to be the next step in the global black money probe. The Finance Minister also said that a populist stance on black money would help black money account holders.

Jaitley's statement caused uproar following which members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Samajwadi Party staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha.