Further action against black money, warns PM

Kobe: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned of further action against those with black money once the December 30 deadline expires for disclosing demonetised notes, saying they will have to “pay for” unaccounted cash.
At the same time, he said honest people have nothing to fear from the government. He also made a veiled attack on the Opposition, saying a section of the people was “egging” others to speak against him on the scheme.
“I want to tell the people again and again that the government will do everything to protect the honest. But the dishonest beware, I will make you pay for it,” he said addressing the Indian community here at a reception before winding up his three-day visit to Japan.
In a speech laced with barbs and humour, Modi said opportunities were given to those with black money to come clean.
“It is not as though opportunity was not given. Then also if you feel that it will be business as usual, I cannot be faulted.
“After December 30 scheme (the last date for depositing demonetised notes) if you feel that there will be no action, there is no guarantee that something new will not be introduced to punish you,” Modi said.
“The world has changed. I gave you time. Now it is up to you, think about your son’s future,” he said, amidst cheers from the audience.
Referring to his November 8 announcement cancelling the legal tender status of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Modi said the government had not done it all of a sudden. The government, he said, had earlier brought out schemes for declaration of black money, the first of which fetched Rs 67,000 crores.
“Even then people said Modi has failed. In the last two years a sum of Rs 1.25 lakh crores has been unearthed,” he said and added, “what the government has done was not to harass anybody.” (PTI)