TNN, Jan 24, 2011, 02.57am IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Govt-must-seized-black-money-stashed-in-Swiss-banks/articleshow/7349442.cms

PATNA: CPM politburo member S R Pillai, while demanding confiscation of black money stashed in Swiss bank accounts, has said check on corruption will be the main slogan of anti-price rise agitation to be launched from February 9 to 20 by ten Left and secular parties.

Talking to the newsmen here on Sunday, Pillai said the failure of the UPA-II government at the Centre in unearthing black money stashed in Swiss banks and other tax havens has been exposed by the recent observations of the Supreme Court. He said unaccounted and ill-gotten wealth, amassed through tax evasion,  money laundering and other illegal means, kept in Swiss banks should be directly confiscated by the Centre.

While maintaining that common people were suffering due to the relentless increase in the prices of food items, Pillai said onions and vegetables had gone out of the reach of the common people.

"Food inflation remains unbearably high. Yet, the UPA government remains callous to the plight of the people. False assurances are given that the prices will come down within a short period. The ministers in the UPA government are giving contradictory statements regarding price rise and ways to tackle it," he added.

He said since deregulation, petrol prices have been hiked seven times leading to 20 per cent rise in petrol prices and adedd oil companies had increased the price of petrol twice in a month.The hike amounts to a steep Rs 5.50 per litre, he said.