Lacking in action against corruption

Paradise after Panama papers have revealed the names of high and mighty, who have tax haven dealings, but despite the prompt order of probe, no action would be initiated on the report of the investigation. Though Centre has rightly ordered a probe by the reconstituted Multi Agency Group into the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' Paradise Papers, the most important thing is action on the report of investigation. It is welcome that the Govt. has taken prompt action by ordering the probe immediately after Paradise papers’ names came to light, which reflects how big and mighty people from all around the world commit irregularities and have tax haven dealings. They have unaccounted money so they deal with tax haven by conniving with the law of the land. Paradise and Panama papers are of International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which have leaked the information about how political leaders, Bollywood actors, businessmen, doctors etc. have stashed their unaccounted money into tax haven countries. With the revelation of Panama papers, several governments all around the world, including our neighbour Pakistan toppled, but no action was taken by our Govt. against those powerful personalities whose names figured in them. So, mere giving order to probe into Paradise papers and taking no action on the report of the investigation would never serve any purpose. And ultimately, it sends out the message that the Govt. at the Centre is not interested in acting against those people whose names figured in either Panama or Paradise. India's rank is 19th in Paradise papers as far as the name of the people in them is concerned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi always stresses the need for rooting out corruption from the country. But the time of issuing statements have gone. Now, action against corruption irrespective of connection is urgently required. Otherwise, the impression would go that Narendra Modi govt. is as lax as the previous one was in regards to fighting against corruption. ICIJ and 95 media partners explored 13.4 million leaked files from some of the world's most secretive countries. Prominent names from the US, UK, several other countries even India are shown to have tax haven dealings. From India to Washington, to London from Canada to Pakistan the new set of papers reveal how world’s rich and mighty has been indulging in alleged financial irregularities. Indian govt. has already taken cognizance and investigation units of the Income Tax Department have been alerted to take note of revelations for immediate appropriate action. It has been reported that many cases of offshore entities are already under investigation on fast track. The Government has directed that investigations in cases of Paradise Papers will be monitored through a reconstituted Multi Agency Group, headed by the Chairman, CBDT, having representatives from CBDT, ED, RBI & FIU. The most appropriate way to deal with corruption and black money is to take prompt action against all those, who are involved amassing ill-gotten money, irrespective of their connection. The time has come for action, and not merely issuing statement after statement about this and that achievement.