Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, how he could pass a statement about government aiding black money hoarders in the parliament. He said he wondered whether the Congress party is “…interested in debate or rules of debate.” “Rahul Gandhi can say these things inside the House also. Why is he shying away from the debate? Why? If he is more comfortable reading his statement, read that also. But after so many days, today they walked in and they walked out, walked out and walked in.”
The Opposition parties demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the entire discussion on demonetization and have also asked for a debate under rule 56 which entails voting. Talking about the demand for discussion, Prasad said, “As far as the voting part is concerned, there is the country’s mandate. BJP swept in Gujarat, did so well in Maharashtra, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. They lost in Bengal and Tripura. Come and have a debate,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi, earlier in the day, said that the amendment to the Income Tax law, passed in Lok Sabha yesterday, would allegedly help black money hoarders as it states that 25 percent of the black money will be refunded immediately, and 25 percent will be refunded after four years. He said that “The government has given 50 percent of the black money back to hoarders.”
The Taxation Laws (2nd Amendment) Bill gives a chance to legalise black money after paying a tax on the amount post-demonetisation. As per the bill, those who disclose black money to banks will have to pay 50 percent tax, including surcharge and penalty. In the remaining 50 percent, 25 percent will be returned immediately to the individual and 25 percent after four years through a lock down system. This income will be used for development plans of the government.
