Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a tax amnesty scheme for disclosure of undisclosed income and property would not be extended beyond the September 30 deadline, during his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat'. He added it was the "last chance" for people to join a "transparent system".
"For those having undisclosed income, the government has provided a special chance to declare it by September 30. I have promised that there will be no inquiry into the source of the undisclosed income and assets if the declaration is made voluntarily. That is why I am saying it is a good chance for becoming a part of the transparent system. Let me tell the countrymen that this chance is till September 30. Consider this as the last chance," he said. He said he had talked to MPs from the BJP and told them if they faced any problem after September 30 for not abiding by the rules, no help should be provided by them. Modi said there was a time when taxation rules were such that people would tend to avoid paying taxes. "But gradually, times changed. Now, for a taxpayer, it is not much difficult to abide by the government rules. Still, old habits die hard."
Modi said, "My plea is that by running away from rules, we lose our peace. Any small person can harass us. Why should we let it happen? Why not ourselves give correct information to the government about our income, about our wealth? For once, dispose of the baggage of the past. I appeal to my countrymen to get free from this." Talking about his interaction with Income Tax, Customs and Excise officials lately, Modi said he told them they should not consider the countrymen as thieves, but should repose faith in them and 'hand-hold' them to encourage them to become law-abiding citizens. Modi said that the government wanted to give a last chance to people to come clean before the crackdown begins.
