Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said treaties had been signed with a total 37 countries to know the details of money stashed abroad by Indians.
''Not all money kept abroad is black money ... It might have been deposited by business men or business houses. The process will take time to know the exact amount,'' he told a meeting Congress workers in Khargram.
Mukherjee said the unrest in Syria and Libya had caused the increase in prices of petro products and fertilisers. ''Potassium was brought from these two countries but has now stopped due to political unrest there.''
''We (the Centre) have to provide huge subsidy for petro products and food and therefore our hands are tied when it comes to providing extra money to the states.''
The union minister said the UPA government is committed to improve the country's socio-economic infrastructure and is taking steps in the direction. However, there are delays as Congress has to depend on allies and there are differences of opinion at times.
Referring to bad condition of rural roads, he said prime minister's Gram Sadak Yojana does not provide for money for maintenance and advised MLAS to intimate the matter with the state government, who would in turn take up the matter with the Centre.
