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Journalism of Courage
In a major gain for India,the G-20 Finance Ministers today decided to back measures to obtain tax information from entities,a move that can help countries get information about money stashed in tax havens.
A communique,issued at the end of two-day meeting of G-20 Finance Ministers including Pranab Mukherjee,said the meeting has underlined,in particular,the importance of a comprehensive tax information exchange and encouraging competent authorities to continue their work in the global forum to assess and better define the means to improve it.
For the first time,there is acceptance that G-20 will put its weight behind the issues relating to obtaining tax information,a senior Indian official accompanying Mukherjee said.
“This is a big victory for India because India was responsible for getting this sentence included… We were the ones to get this incorporated in the G-20 communique for the first time,” R Gopalan,Secretary,Department of Economic Affairs,said.
Mukherjee,during his bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the US,UK,Australia and France,had put in strenuous efforts to get G-20 on board with India’s concerns on black money.
Gopalan said that global concerns on tax evasion are expected to be reflected from the Cannes Leader Summit scheduled next month.
“…This is one of the most important takeaways which India expects from the Summit,” he said.
“We will take the work forward in the Global Forum and get all the items defined. Then (countries) will start sharing information. This is a big victory for India…,” Gopalan said.
