Bhattal in Delhi for NRIs' cause

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Dec 18

Former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today demanded revocation of 12.36 per cent fee on NRI remittances. In Delhi to oppose the fee, a matter which Congress’ Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh recently raised in the House, Bhattal said: “The UPA government had revoked the fee although it was levied in the Union Budget of 2012. The Modi government must withdraw the fee to see that black money is not generated and that NRI remittances come into India through a transparent and legal route.”

Bhattal has written letters to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue in a big way in Lok Sabha. “This issue concerns the financial interests of all NRIs. On the one hand the BJP Government is going all out to woo NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin. On the other they are taking such extreme and harsh steps against them,” Bhattal said.

The Central Board of excise and Customs through a circular dated October 14, 2014 said that the BJP Government had cancelled the decision of the previous Congress led UPA regime to end the remittance fee.

“This move will have adverse effects on inward remittances to India and NIRs will be forced to take the hawala route to send money home,” Bhattal said.