I have neither friends nor enemies in the corporate sector – FM
The Finance Minister was reacting to Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh’s charge that the UPA government was selective with regard to income tax raids.
The FM added
You know, everybody knows that when a CAG paragraph is there, immediately section 147 notice is issued and assessments are reopened. There is no friend, There is no enemy.
Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said in its report that big corporate houses, including Reliance Industries and Tata Motors, were under assessed resulting in a short levy of taxes exceeding Rs 1,000 crore.
Besides, the CAG named cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar who were given exemptions by the IT authorities. However, the government clarified that the cricketers were being asked to pay their dues.
"This government in matters relating to finance will be absolutely scrupulous and will observe financial prudence. We will not favour anyone. We will not disfavour anyone," asserted the FM.