Mamata slams demonetization as Indians put more in Swiss banks
Kolkata, June 29: Amid reports of soaring deposits by Indians in the Swiss banks in the last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday taunted the Narendra Modi government over its demonetization move.
She said money was "flying" to Swiss bank while India was "losing".
"Bravo! #DeMonetisation? Swiss Bank money flying. India losing," Banerjee said in a tweet.
According to media reports, after falling for three years in succession, money parked by Indians in Swiss banks rose 50 per cent to 1.02 billion Swiss francs in 2017 over the previous year.
Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said data of money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks will be available to the government under an agreement signed with Switzerland for automatic exchange of information.
Responding to media queries on the rise of deposits by Indians in Swiss banks, he said: "From what I understand (from media reports) 40 per cent increase in foreign remittances are on account of the Reserve Bank's Liberalised Remittance Scheme brought during the previous (UPA) government under which a resident Indian can remit $250,000 per year."
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
