Recently the leader of our opposition party set the cat among the pigeons by raising the issue of black money which is stashed away in foreign bank, especially in Swiss bank accounts. This issue figures in the press with striking regularity and the public too get agitated by such reports with the government looking as helpless as ever. But what intrigues one is the fact that the leader who was foaming at his mouth while giving expression to his holy anger was an important minister of a government which ruled this country just some years back. After sitting tight atop this issue and doing nothing to bring this huge black money, now he finds in it a stick to beat the government with!

It is an unvarnished truth that a motley group ranging from stinkingly corrupt politicians, bureaucrats with plasticine conscience, our gods and goddesses of the silver screen et al have indulged in this game of transferring their black money to offshore bank accounts. Thus a substantial part of our scarce resources is siphoned off to be safely parked in these accounts. While India remains poor, this selfish class thrives at the cost of aam adami . And if you want to know how much of it has been kept idly, my guess is as good as that of yours!

There is an interesting piece of statistics gleaned from Swiss Banking Association's report and according to which India figures at the top of the list with a whopping $1456 billion that is 1.4 trillion enough to retire all our foreign debts! And just think how many mouths could have been fed and how half-naked bodies could have been clothed and how many schools, hospitals and roads could have been built!

It is a vicious cycle which has kept this machine well-oiled. The persons who figure in this murky game grease the palms of those who are entrusted with the job of catching them and the resultant loot find the common destination – the foreign bank accounts!