Narendra Modi asks people to declare undisclosed income by September 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked people to declare their undisclosed income by September 30, making it clear that this is the last chance to avoid problems that will follow after the window of opportunity closes. He said no questions would be asked about the source of the undisclosed income or assets if the declaration is made voluntarily by September 30.

For those having undisclosed income, the government has provided a special chance to declare it by September 30, Modi said in his monthly radio programme, ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

He said those having undisclosed money can free themselves from various kinds of burden by paying a penalty.

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 transparent system, he said.

He said he has told BJP MPs that if anybody faced any problem after September 30 for not abiding by the rules, no help should be provided to them. It will be better that you take advantage of the window provided and save yourself from the difficulties that you can face after September 30.”

There was a time when taxation rules were such that people would tend to avoiding paying taxes. “But gradually, times changed. Now, for a taxpayer, it is not difficult to abide by the government rules. Still, old habits die hard,” he said, adding there were still people who felt that it was better to avoid paying taxes.

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 we ourselves give correct information to the government about our income, about our wealth? For once, dispose off the baggage of the past. I appeal to my countrymen to get free from this, he said.

Modi spoke about Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on this day in 1975. Recalling the “black night” of Emergency, he asserted that India's commitment to democracy needed to be taken further.

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He said the “shining example of democratic powers of a common citizen” was seen during Emergency.

Sometimes some people mock at my ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme and even criticise it. This is possible because we are committed to democracy. Today when I am talking to you on June 26, we should not forget that our strength is democracy, our strength is people’s strength and our strength is every citizen. We have to take this commitment further and strengthen it, he noted out.