English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

All money in Swiss bank not black, will get all black money data by 2019: Piyush Goel

Published

on

All money in Swiss bank not black, will get all black money data by 2019: Piyush Goel

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Attacked and mocked by Opposition and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy over report of 50% rise in money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks in 2017, acting finance minister in Narendra Modi government, Piyush Goyal came up with some dubious claims and promises on Friday, June 29.

He questioned how all the money could be assumed to be illegal and said India will get all data on black money from Switzerland by the end of fiscal 2019.

“We will have all the info and if anybody is found guilty, strict action will be taken,” Goyal told reporters in New Delhi. “Today, nobody has the guts to save money outside the country. And it has been possible only because of the government’s hard work,” the caretaker Finance Minister said.

“Agreement between India and Switzerland has this. From January 1, 2018 till end of accounting year (ends March 31, 2019), all data will be made available. Why assume this is black money or illegal transactions?” Piyush Goyal said, referring to the report.

Around 40 per cent of this money is because of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), Goyal said. Under the scheme, an individual can remit up to USD 2,50,000 in a foreign account per year.

India has a treaty with Switzerland under which the Swiss government would provide all data from January 1, 2018 till December 31, 2018. India would get data as the accounting year ends, Goyal said.

“We will have all information. If someone is found guilty, the government will take strong action against them,” the Finance Minister said.

While Switzerland has already begun sharing foreign client details on evidence of wrongdoing provided by India and some other countries, it has agreed to further expand its cooperation on India’s fight against black money with a new pact for automatic information exchange.

India and Switzerland have held several rounds of discussions on the new framework on exchange of financial data, and also for fast-tracking exchange of pending information requests about suspected illegal accounts of Indians in Swiss banks.

About an hour after Piyush Goyal’s remarks, Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to take a swipe at the Modi government over what he claimed was the government’s inability to win the fight against black money.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Data released by Swiss National Bank reveal that after declining for three successive years, money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks rose 50 per cent to CHF (Swiss Franc) 1.02 billion (Rs 7,000 crore) in 2017 over the previous year.

In comparison, the total funds held by all foreign clients of Swiss banks rose about 3 per cent to CHF 1.46 trillion or about Rs 100 lakh crore in 2017, according to data released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), the central banking authority of the Alpine nation.

Indian money in Swiss banks had fallen by 45 per cent in 2016, marking their biggest ever yearly plunge, to 676 million Swiss francs (Rs. 4,500 crore) – the lowest ever since Switzerland began making the data public in 1987.

In November 2016, the government had withdrawn high-value currency notes from circulation overnight. PM Minister Narendra Modi had said demonetisation would wipe out black money from the system.

The rupee has also been under severe stress. On Thursday, it breached the 69-mark against the US dollar for the first time, ending the day at an all-time low of 68.79.

The government came under severe attack from Opposition and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy hit out at the government for its failure in curbing generation of black money. Writing on his Twitter handle, Swamy said, “Secret Swiss bank accounts deposits from global sources rose by three per cent in last 12 months. Indians’ deposits however grew 50 per cent.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Congress in a tweet said, “One of PM Modi’s long-standing campaign promises of bringing back black money falls flat. While you sit and wait for your promised Rs 15 lakh, more capital has flown the coop.”

Congress leader and former Union minister Manish Tewari also hit out at the Centre.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRVJ1cGVlJTIwYXQlMjA2OSUyQ0luZGlhbiUyMGRlcG9zaXRzJTIwaW4lMjBTd2lzcyUyMEJhbmtzJTIwdXAlMjA1MCUyNSUyQ1VTJTIwYXJtJTIwdHdpc3RpbmclMjBJbmRpYSUyMG9uJTIwSXJhbiUyMGFmdGVyJTIwc251YmJpbmclMjBJdCUyMG9uJTIwMiUyQjIlMjBkaWFsb2d1ZSUyQ1Bvc3QlMjBNYWxkaXZlcy1TcmklMjBMYW5rYSVFMiU4MCU5OXMlMjBSYWphcGFrc2ElMjB3YXJucyUyMEluZGlhJTIwYWduc3QlMjBpbnRlcmZlcmVuY2UlMjBpbiUyMGludGVybmFsJTIwYWZmYWlycyUyQ0olMjZhbXAlM0JLJTIwdXAlMjBpbiUyMFNtb2tlJTIwJTI2YW1wJTNCJTIwTkRBJTJGQkpQJTIwYnVzeSUyMGxlYWtpbmclMjBzdHJpa2UlMjB2aWRlb3MuJTIwQWNoZSUyMERpbiUyMGFyZSUyMGhlcmUlMjElMjBHLk1vcm4lM0MlMkZwJTNFJTI2bWRhc2glM0IlMjBNYW5pc2glMjBUZXdhcmklMjAlMjglNDBNYW5pc2hUZXdhcmklMjklMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZNYW5pc2hUZXdhcmklMkZzdGF0dXMlMkYxMDEyNDk0NDg4ODU2NDU3MjE2JTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VKdW5lJTIwMjklMkMlMjAyMDE4JTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRmJsb2NrcXVvdGUlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBhc3luYyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNFJTBB[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Tweeting a caricature on the development, the Aam Aadmi Party said the black money parked in foreign lands will not return in PM Modi’s government.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Sitaram Yechury alleged that prime minister has no time or intention to remember the tall promises he made in 2014.

“From falsifying history to making new promises, Jumlaman has no time or intention to remember tall promises he made in 2014. From depositing 15 lakh in each bank account to making Rupee stronger to doubling farmers’ income, he has only insulted and humiliated us Indians,” he said in a tweet.

In another tweet, Yechury said the data is no surprise since the “Modi government writes off lakhs of crores of unpaid loans of crony corporate and businessmen flee India after looting public money under his watch”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

PM Modi-Xi meeting: Xi says India, China can learn from each other’s strengths

PM Modi and Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, with discussions focused on border peace, bilateral relations and cooperation.

Published

on

China President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping said India and China can learn from each other’s strengths and support one another as he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026 during Xi’s two-day visit to India. It was his first visit to the country in seven years. The discussions covered bilateral relations, border issues, trade and investment.

PM Modi stresses importance of border peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential for the continued development of India-China relations.

He also underlined the need for both countries to follow existing agreements and understandings related to border issues. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question while keeping the long-term interests of both countries in mind.

The two sides also noted steady progress in bilateral relations since Modi and Xi last met in Tianjin in August 2025.

Modi stressed that differences between India and China should not turn into disputes. He said the relationship should be guided by three principles — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.

Xi calls for long-term India-China ties

During the meeting, Xi Jinping said China has consistently viewed its relationship with India from a strategic and long-term perspective.

He recalled that he and Modi have met 21 times over the years and said these meetings had helped guide India-China relations towards steady development.

Xi said that despite differences in their national conditions, India and China could learn from each other’s strengths, support one another and pursue common development.

He also highlighted the responsibilities of India and China as two of the world’s most populous countries and important members of the Global South.

Both sides review bilateral relations

The two leaders carried out a comprehensive review of India-China relations and discussed measures to expand engagement.

The talks also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and continuing cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest.

After the meeting, Modi said the two sides had reviewed the full range of India-China relations. He also conveyed India’s best wishes to China ahead of its BRICS presidency next year.

Continue Reading

India News

Bank holiday on September 14: Banks closed in these cities

Banks will remain closed on September 14 in nine cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, due to Ganesh Chaturthi and related festival observances.

Published

on

Bank holidays

The bank holiday on September 14 will affect branches in select cities across India as banks observe a regional holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi and related festival observances.

September 14, 2026, falls on a Monday and is listed as a holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Puja, Varasiddhi Vinayaka Vrata, Vinayakar Chathurthi and Hartalika in certain banking centres.

Bank holiday on September 14: Full city-wise list

According to the holiday listings, bank branches will remain closed on September 14 in the following centres:

CityFestival/occasion
BelapurGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
BengaluruGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
BhubaneswarGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
ChennaiGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
HyderabadGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
MumbaiGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
NagpurGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
PanajiGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances
VijayawadaGanesh Chaturthi/Ganesh Puja/related observances

The holiday is therefore not applicable to bank branches across the entire country. Bank holidays in India vary by state and banking centre, depending on local festivals and occasions.

Why are banks closed on September 14?

September 14 marks Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026. The festival falls on Monday this year, with the date confirmed as September 14.

The banking holiday calendar uses different names for the observance across centres, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh Puja, Varasiddhi Vinayaka Vrata, Vinayakar Chathurthi and Hartalika.

The National Stock Exchange’s 2026 holiday circular also lists September 14 as a trading holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Will online banking services work on September 14?

The closure applies to physical bank branches in the affected centres. Customers can generally continue to use digital banking channels such as mobile banking, internet banking and UPI, although specific services can depend on the bank.

Customers who need to visit a branch for cash deposits, withdrawals, account-related work or other in-person services should check the holiday status of their particular branch before visiting.

What about banks in other cities?

Banks in cities that are not covered by the September 14 regional holiday are not automatically closed because of Ganesh Chaturthi.

The bank holiday calendar is centre-specific, so customers should check their bank’s branch holiday schedule before planning a branch visit.

Continue Reading

India News

Harish Rawat quits Congress posts after ED raid on aide

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat resigned from two Congress posts after the ED searched his aide Chandan Singh Jeena’s premises in a money laundering probe.

Published

on

Harish Rawat

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat has resigned from two organisational positions in the Congress after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the premises of his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena.

Rawat announced his decision on Friday, saying he did not want the controversy surrounding his close associate to weaken the Congress’s campaign against corruption. He stepped down as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee.

The ED searches were linked to a money laundering investigation concerning alleged irregularities in the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination conducted by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC).

What ED recovered from Rawat’s aide

The ED carried out searches at multiple locations in Dehradun, including premises connected with former UKSSSC officials, a private computer agency involved in processing OMR sheets and alleged middlemen.

According to the agency, its search of Jeena’s residence resulted in the seizure of Rs 32 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold coins and chains weighing around 200.5 grams, and 12 luxury watches.

The gold comprised 13 coins and seven chains. The watches included brands such as Rolex, Rado, Piaget, Movado, Tissot and Casio Edifice, according to the ED.

The agency also said bank accounts belonging to Jeena and his family members containing Rs 52.16 lakh were frozen. His mobile phone was seized for forensic examination.

The ED alleged that Jeena had made substantial cash expenditures for which no legitimate source of income could be established. It also said unaccounted cash, jewellery and other valuables were recovered from some former UKSSSC officials and associated individuals.

What is the UKSSSC exam case?

The ED’s money laundering investigation stems from four FIRs registered by the Uttarakhand Police and Vigilance Bureau over alleged irregularities in the 2016 Gram Panchayat Vikas Adhikari examination.

According to the agency, OMR answer sheets were allegedly removed from secure custody and taken to the residence of the commission’s then secretary. Roll numbers of under-filled answer sheets were recorded and passed to personnel of a private computer agency.

The ED has alleged that answer bubbles were subsequently filled or altered fraudulently before the sheets were resealed, with illegal payments allegedly routed through middlemen.

Jeena is currently serving as Rawat’s personal assistant. He had earlier served as Rawat’s officer on special duty when Rawat was Uttarakhand chief minister between 2014 and 2017.

What Harish Rawat said

Reacting to the allegations, Rawat said he found it difficult to believe that Jeena had been involved in wrongdoing. He acknowledged Jeena’s association with him and said the truth behind the allegations would emerge with time.

Rawat said that if evidence showed Jeena had tampered with OMR sheets in the recruitment examination, he would be ashamed of such conduct, while adding that he did not believe the allegation.

Explaining his resignation, Rawat said Uttarakhand politics was entering an election phase and that attempts were being made to create a narrative against him.

He said Congress and its workers were fighting corruption and that he did not want any action associated with him to weaken the party’s campaign. Since he did not hold a government position from which he could resign, he chose to step down from his organisational responsibilities in the party.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com