Congress president Rahul Gandhi has attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the rise in money stashed away by Indians in Swiss banks by over 50 per cent to 1.01 billion Swiss franc (Rs 7,000 crore) in 2017.

In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi sought to mock PM Modi over his remarks made since 2014 on black money.

Without naming Modi, the Congress president said the PM had promised to bring back all black money in Swiss banks and put Rs 15 lakh in each Indian bank account.

Rahul alleged that Modi had in 2016 claimed demonetisation would cure India of black money.

Tagging an India Today news clip, the Congress chief went on to refer to interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal's remarks earlier in the day about the latest data released by the Swiss National Bank that showed a rise in Indian deposits last year.

He said, "In 2018, he says 50 per cent jump in Swiss bank deposits by Indians is white money. (There is) no black in Swiss banks."

 

2014, HE said: I will bring back all the "BLACK" money in Swiss Banks & put 15 Lakhs in each Indian bank A/C.

2016, HE said: Demonetisation will cure India of "BLACK" money.

2018, HE says: 50% jump in Swiss Bank deposits by Indians, is "WHITE" money. No "BLACK" in Swiss Banks! pic.twitter.com/7AIgT529ST

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2018

Earlier, the Congress too hit out at Modi for failing in his "promise" to curb black money. In a tweet, it said, "One of PM Modi's long-standing campaign promises of bringing back black money falls flat. While you sit and wait for your promised Rs 15 lakh, more capital has flown the coop."

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Manish Tewari too lashed out at the Modi government.

In a tweet, Tewari said, "Rupee at 69, Indian deposits in Swiss banks up 50 per cent, US arm twisting India on Iran after snubbing it on 2+2 dialogue; post-Maldives, Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa warns India against interference in internal affairs, Jammu and Kashmir is up in smoke and BJP-led NDA is busy leaking strike videos. 'Ache Din' are here. Good morning."

The rise in money parked by Indians in Swiss banks is against a three-year downward trend and comes amid India's clampdown on suspected black money stashed away in Switzerland.

The surge in Indian money held with Swiss banks comes as a surprise given India's continuing clampdown on suspected black money stashed abroad, including in banks of Switzerland that used to be known for their famed secrecy walls for years.

The Indian money in Swiss banks had fallen by 45 per cent in 2016, marking their biggest ever yearly plunge, to 676 million Swiss franc (about Rs 4,500 crore) - the lowest ever since the European nation began making the data public in 1987.