Tax: Shinde gets no response

The excuses ranged from the blatant to the bizarre when the The Indian Express contacted the ministers, most of whom were — obviously — reluctant to comment. One said he was busy, another said he had to ‘‘collect records from his native village’’, yet another simply asked, ‘‘what returns?’’

Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde himself doesn’t seem to be particularly keen on the topic. ‘‘I have no information on the response to my appeal,’’ Shinde told The Indian Express. His office confirmed that, thus far, none of his cabinet members have submitted the details of their assets and liabilities. A few ministers said they were in the process of submitting the details. They attributed the delay to the on-going budget session of legislature.

Then there was Minister of State for Higher and Technical Education Anees Ahmed who insisted he was unaware of the Code of Conduct for Ministers. ‘‘I have not received the circular, as such, there is no question of submitting details of assets and liabilities,’’ Ahmed remarked. Soon after Shinde took over in January, he had circulated a note to his cabinet colleagues on the Code of Conduct. He said he expected members of cabinet to not just disclose to assets, liabilities and business interests, but sever all connections—short of divesting themselves of ownership—with the conduct and management of any business they were involved with before appointment as a cabinet member.