Centre will take stringent action in 'Panama Papers' leak: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today said the Modi government will take "stringent action" against those who have violated the law, following the release of ' Panama Papers' featuring alleged links of over 500 Indians to firms and accounts in offshore tax havens.

It also used the occasion to attack Congress, saying the government has taken steps against black money hoarders and the ruling BJP MPs have given affidavits stating they hold no foreign bank accounts, whereas leaders of the opposition party made no such assertion and some of them have in fact been found to be holding bank accounts abroad.

"The government will take stringent action against these people under the law. Those found to have evaded tax will face strict action," BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Attacking Congress, he said BJP MPs had given affidavits in Parliament, saying that they have no bank accounts abroad but the top Congress brass refrained from it.

"In fact, names of Congress leaders like Preneet Kaur and Narayan Rane were among those alleged to have dubious accounts in banks abroad," he said.

The first step of the government after coming to power was the constitution of an SIT to look into black money issue and it later made laws to curb illicit money, he said, adding that it showed the Modi dispensation's commitment to fighting against black money.