Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told us recently that a
revelation of names in connection with untaxed or black money in foreign
accounts would "embarrass the Congress." While none of those in a first
set of names placed by the government before the Supreme Court today
are politicians, there is potential embarrassment for not just the
Congress, but also ruling party BJP.
Among eight people named in
an affidavit filed in the top court today are five members of a family
that runs a Goa-based mining company Timblo Pvt Ltd. The Timblos have
donated funds to both the Congress and the BJP, more to the latter, NGO
Association for Democratic Reforms or ADR said citing public documents.
"An
analysis of the donations made by individuals and corporates to the
National Parties between FY 2004-05 and 2011-12 shows that Timblo Pvt
Ltd, whose Managing Director is Radha Timblo, had donated nine times to
BJP amounting to a total of Rs. 1.18 crores and thrice to INC, amounting to a total of Rs. 65 lakhs in seven years," ADR said in a press release, listing details of the donations.
The last of the alleged donations listed were made in 2011-12; state elections were last held in Goa in 2012.
The
Timblos, along with Pradip Burman of the Dabur India group and bullion
trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya of Surat are being prosecuted for
alleged tax evasion as money was found in their foreign accounts that
was unaccounted for, the government has said.
Timblo company's
Radha Timblo conceded that "at different times there were some searches,
raids" but said she would comment on the affidavit later.
The BJP's endurance test for the Shiv Sena is delivering results. In new
shows of courtesy, the Shiv Sena and its top leaders are offering vast
praise for the BJP, the Prime Minister and the man likely to be
Maharashtra's next chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
Sources
confirm that on Friday, the BJP, which won the most seats in the state
election, will have its ministers take their oath at a ceremony attended
by the Prime Minister. The BJP does not have an outright majority, but
it has a menu card of options for forming the government.
The
BJP has an offer of support from Sharad Pawar's NCP; it could recast
its alliance with the Sena, which placed second in the elections; the
BJP has also said it's working on winning over independents to bolster
its strength.
Shiv Sena sources claim that their chief Uddhav
Thackeray is "talking directly" with PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to
forge a deal.
So far, however, the BJP has refused to put the
Shiv Sena out of its misery by indicating whether a merger will be
renewed. The Shiv Sena has made it clear that it treats the partnership
as unstuck only in Maharashtra. Its law-makers were conspicuously
present at a tea party hosted for allies by the PM on Sunday.
In
an attempt at make-good, the Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece
today, credited both the Prime Minister and Mr Shah for winning
Maharashtra. Earlier editorials tolled the PM and his party with a
marked lack of restraint.
"Fadnavis ji has done great work in
Maharashtra," said Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena, promising his party's
support for "a Chief Minister who will take Maharashtra to new heights."
Tomorrow,
senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh is slated to be in Mumbai to attend a
session where law-makers are expected to elect Mr Fadnavis as their
leader and so the new Chief Minister.
China today warned India against taking any action that may "complicate
or exaggerate" the boundary issue after India announced plans to build
54 new border posts in Arunachal Pradesh on October 24.
China's
position on the boundary question is consistent and clear, said Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in an e-mail response to the
news agency Press Trust of India. China, he said, was committed to
finding a solution "through friendly negotiation as soon as possible"
and working together to safeguard peace and tranquility.
But "pending the final settlement of the boundary question, we hope the
Indian side could refrain from taking any action that may complicate or
exaggerate the question," Mr Hua said.
On October 15, China had
objected to India's plans to build a 2000-km road along the border in
Arunachal Pradesh. The road from Mago-Thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in
Changlang district is meant to match China's infrastructure
development.
"Before
the border problem is solved, we hope the Indian side will not take any
action that could further complicate the relevant issue," Chinese
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei had said.
"We should jointly
safeguard the peace and tranquility of the border area and create
favourable conditions for the final settlement of the border issue," he
had added.
In response, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said
nobody should "threaten or warn India". "India has grown in strength.
Both sides should resolve the border issue through dialogue," he had
said.
Subsequently,
officials from India and China held the Working Mechanism for
Consultation and Coordination held a meeting in New Delhi, during which
the two sides discussed a host of issues relating to the management of
the boundary and keeping peace along the border.
Last month,
India and China agreed to pull back troops ranged against each other in
Ladakh, ending their biggest face-off on the border in a year.
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