Black money row: Jethmalani terms UPA-II 'shameless'

Noted jurist and Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament Ram Jethmalani on Friday slammed the ruling United Progressive Alliance government as "shameless" for remaining in office even after the Supreme Court's criticism of it for the "laggardly pace" of probe into the issue of black money stashed abroad in tax havens.

"Any government with any sense of self-respect would have vacated office. They are shameless," he said, while speaking on the topic of 'Black Money in Tax Havens and Foreign Banks: Mechanisms to curb corruption...' at a convention in New Delhi on rule of law.

"These government officials should not have been allowed in the streets," he said, while asking the audience to read the apex court judgement of July 4, 2011 which had pulled up the government on the issue of black money stashed overseas.

"Everyone should read the Supreme Court judgement on this issue and what the apex court said regarding the government's conduct," he said referring to the judgement delivered by Justices B Sudershan Reddy (since retd) and S S Nijjar.

Expressing indignation over the government's inaction to tackle the menace of black money despite a United Nations Convention on Corruption, he said it was pressure from the apex court which was responsible for pushing the Centre to take some action.

"Stone them (the government) on public roads," he added. However, the government had sought review of the July 4, 2011 verdict and on September 23 justices Altamas Kabir (who replaced Justice Reddy) and Justice Nijjar gave split verdict.

The matter is now pending before a larger bench.