Finance ministry to reopen assessments of taxpayers with secret foreign assets

NEW DELHI: The finance ministry is considering reopening assessments of taxpayers found to possessundisclosed foreign assets and bank accounts to up to 16 years as against six years now.

"We are examining allowing opening up of reassessment to up to 16 years to verify older information and establish money trail, it is necessary to have a provision for opening of older assessment," said a finance ministry official.

A government panel on black money has pitched for reopening assessments of such taxpayers as part of the measures to tackle black money. The official explained that such a law will also help the government secure information under its revised tax treaties such as the one with Switzerland.

As Anna ends fast, the city feasts on the victory dance

COIMBATORE: The cotton city on Sunday celebrated the successful culmination of Anna Hazare`s fast against corruption in a variety of ways. Gandhipuram and railway station premises witnessed a cracker fest while activists distributed sweets in many parts of the city. Despite it being a Sunday, students came together and organized small gatherings and processions to mark the victory.

The indefinite fast undertaken by activists of voluntary organization Fifth Pillar in support of Hazare`s cause also came to a close on Sunday. Over 200 people took part in a public programme organized by Fifth Pillar and Isha Yoga Centre at CODESSIA trade fair complex in the evening. Vande Matharam reverberated in the air when the activists took a pledge against corruption. The programme also reiterated the role of vigilance police and the Right to Information Act in fighting corruption. The speeches were interspersed with music sessions organized by singers of the Isha Yoga Centre

"It is a remarkable victory and we will carry forward the war against corruption," said Vijay Anand, co-founder of Fifth Pillar. He said the celebration should not be an end to the struggle, but a continuation to achieve the goal of eradicating corruption. People should keep the struggle alive and free Coimbatore from corruption, he said.

"I am really excited and happy about the victory of Annaji," said S J Priyanka, a student of GRD Martriculation school. "Ever since he started the movement I have been following the issue, especially the turn of events in the city. It is not the victory of Annaji alone but the victory of people who want to see the country free of corruption. I attended the anti-corruption programmes and this has inspired me to fight corruption. I have pledged never to pay or take bribes from people," Priyanka said.

"People are fed up with a corrupt government. They found a hero in Anna Hazare who was able to mobilize the public to join the fight. We could have been a prosperous and developed country if only we could have curbed corruption. I hope the next generation can live free of such evils," said V Rajesh Kannan, design manager in a private company.

"It is our second struggle for independence and Annaji is the light fighting against the darkness of corruption. However, implementation of the Lokpal bill alone will not weed out corruption," said K Sundareswaran, a businessman.

Anna's next campaign: Right to recall MPs

New Delhi: Minutes after anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare ended his fast on Sunday, he declared that electoral reforms will be on top of his agenda next so that corruption can come down. "I have only deferred my fast, not given it up. Only when these reforms are complete will I really end my fast. I will not rest until all the changes that I look to are achieved," he said to thunderous applause from thousands of his supporters waving tricolour and shouting slogans like 'Anna Hazare Zindabad'.

Hazare broke his 13-days long fast on Sunday morning after Parliament adopted the Sense of the House resolution on the three key demands made by him.

Dismissing the charge that his campaign was against Parliament and Constitution, he said the change has to be through constitutional means.

Hazare said that his fight would now be for Right to recall and Right to reject as part of electoral reforms so that corruption can be reduced.

"While Right to recall would be for those elected, the Right to reject will be a column in the ballot paper which would ensure the voter has a right to say that he does not like the listed candidates.

"We have to reform electoral system. (we need) Right to reject. You should be able to reject your candidate in the ballot paper. We have to do that."

"If the majority in a constituency says that they reject a candidate, even then the election should be cancelled. How much money they (candidates) will distribute? Once the candidate spends Rs 10 crore for one election and if the election is cancelled, then right sense will dawn upon them," he said.

Maintaining that people's parliament is bigger than "Parliament in Delhi", Hazare said that is why Parliament had to listen to people's parliament.

"This movement has created a faith that the country can be rid of corruption and we can go ahead with implementing laws and the Constitution made by Dr BR Ambedkar," he said.

Referring to Parliament's decision to refer three of his demands, citizen's charter, inclusion of lower bureaucracy and creation of Lokayuktas through Lokpal bill for Standing Committee's consideration, he said, the country can be proud of this moment. Thirteen days of agitation has yielded fruits.

Meanwhile, Team Anna said that it hopes that the Government will convene a special session of Parliament to pass the Lokpal Bill in a month's time. "We hope that the government convenes a special session of Parliament within a month's time to pass Lokpal Bill," Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said.

Flanked by his team members, including Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia, Hazare said what has been achieved in Parliament on Saturday is a victory of the people of India, democracy and those assembled in Ramlila Ground.