Amended Indo-Swiss DTAA might be in place by end-2011: Pranab

From H S Rao
London, July 26 (PTI) The protocol signed by India and
Switzerland to amend their existing Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement so as to facilitate information sharing on black
money stashed away in Swiss banks may come into force by the
end of this year, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has
said.
"We have signed a protocol amending the existing Double
Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Switzerland last August. As
per their law and Constitution, their international agreements
are to be ratified by both houses of Parliament and local
authorities.
"The ratification by the two houses are over.
Ratification by local authorities may be over by the end of
this year," Mukherjee told newsmen at India House here last
evening.
Answering a question on BJP President Nitin Gadkari's
demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and Home Minister P Chidambaram following a certain statement
by former Telecom Minister A Raja -- who is under arrest and
faces charges in connection to alleged irregularities in the
award of 2G spectrum -- Mukherjee said: "I don't know what
evidence Raja has given, apart from making a statement. The
matter is before the court and it is for the court to decide."
Raja told a Delhi court hearing the 2G case on Monday
that Chidambaram, then Finance Minister, had told the Prime
Minister that dilution of shares by 2G licencees to attract
FDI did not not amount to sale of licence. Gadkari had
subsequently demanded the resignation of Singh and
Chidambaram, stating that what Raja said in court showed that
the top leadership of the government was aware of all 2G
transactions.