Uproar in Parliament over tax evader Hassan Ali

NEW DELHI: A heated argument between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the other members of the Lok Sabha erupted today in the Lok Sabha over the issue of black money stashed in forign bank accounts and the alleged tax evader Hassan Ali.

Mukherjee said that due process of law will be followed in tackling cases of black money stashed in foreign banks and alleged tax evader Hassan Ali Khan will not be allowed to leave the country.

During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee said: "Hassan Ali has not been allowed to leave the country. Supreme Court directions in this regard will be observed."

He said that he could not "hang anyone" merely on the basis of allegations.

It seems that the Minister's answer was not heard clearly and members of from BJP and the Left parties stood up demanding an answer from him.

Mukherjee got angry, as the members demanded that the Government publicly announce the names of people who had stashed black money in foreign accounts and said that a department of his Ministry had also raided a CPI(M) leader whom he could not hang and the due course of the law had to be followed.

This infuriated the members of Left parties who trooped into the well demanding an apology from the Minister.

At this point, the house was adjourned briefly.

After the House re-assembled, Mukherjee said that Hassan Ali's case was being pursued by the Income Tax Department ans he will not be allowed to leave the country.