PM may make statement in Parliament on black money

New Delhi, July 29 (PTI) IndianPrime Minister Manmohan
Singh may make a statement in Parliament early next week on
the steps taken by the government to bring back black money
stashed away in tax havens by Indians.
The possibility of a statement by the Prime Minister
comes against the backdrop of the Opposition parties planning
to take up the issue of black money in Parliament when it
meets for the Monsoon Session beginning Monday.
"The Prime Minister may make a statement in Parliament
on black money issue," official sources said.
In April the central government had set up a
high-level committee, headed by the revenue secretary, to
probe the issue of black money parked in foreign tax havens.
In early July, the apex court converted this probe
panel into a special investigation team (SIT) headed by two
former apex court judges, Justices B P Jeevan Reddy and M B
Shah.
The government filed a review petition contending that
its order impinged on the executive's domain and the court
should have exercised "judicial self-restraint".
At a meeting of chief whips this week, political
leaders had demanded discussion in Parliament on the issue of
judicial activism.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
had said all possible steps were being taken to bring back
black money stashed away overseas by Indians and negotiations
were on in this regard with as many as 97 countries.