Former Supreme Court judge Justice MB Shah, who is to head the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the black money issue on Wednesday said there are a number of “complexities” involved but asserted he will ensure a speedy probe.

The Narendra Modi Cabinet at its very first meeting yesterday announced that a SIT headed by Shah will be constituted to unearth black money.

“A number of complexities would be there, but at present it is difficult for me to say which complexities I would face. But I will try to solve them as early as possible,” Justice (retd) Shah said.

Asked about the past record of delays in submission of inquiry commission/committee reports, the former judge said he will try to “finish the work as early as possible.”

“I was the Chairman of a Commission on illegal mining of iron ore (in Odisha and Goa). I submitted the first interim report within two months (of starting probe).”

“Thereafter, the Goa report within six months. And thereafter the further report of Odisha in next six months. So I am sure that I will finish the work (probe in black money issue) as early as possible,” he said.

Shah said he would be firm in dealing with big political and corporate personalties if they are found to be involved in stashing away black money in foreign banks.

“I have worked for many years as a judge – 15 years as a high court judge and then five years as a Supreme Court judge. I have never bothered about personalities and nobody has dared to touch me. It is as good as that. Do not worry about it,” he said.

He was asked how he would deal with the issue when big corporate and political personalities are said to be involved in stashing unaccounted wealth overseas.

On the initiative to set up the SIT, he said it was a direction of the Supreme Court and it had to be obeyed by the government.

“The matter was pending for the last two years. Thereafter, a stay order was granted on a review petition. The stay was vacated 15 days ago. Last week, the Supreme Court directed a probe into the issue as early as possible,” Shah said.

“Once the Supreme Court direction came, the government was bound to follow it. Once the review petition was dismissed, there was no alternative for any government. For the new government too it was (imperative) to find out black money.”

The SIT also comprises another former Supreme Court judge Arijit Pasayat as Vice-Chairman, and will be assisted by the Revenue Secretary, Directors of CBI, IB, RAW and ED, the CBDT Chairman and an RBI Deputy Governor.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS, has hit out at Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah for his grim warning that his state will not remain a part of India if Article 370 was revoked from the Indian Constitution.

“J&K won’t b part of India? Is Omar thinking its his parental estate? 370 or no 370 J&K has been n will always b an integral part of India (sic),” tweeted RSS national executive member Ram Madhav.

The RSS leader also defended union minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, who triggered a first-rate controversy on his inaugural day in office by reopening the debate on the Constitutional provision that bestows special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and is the only instrument governing relations between the Union of India and the state.

Mr. Singh, a doctor by profession, has made his debut in the Lok Sabha by wresting the Udhampur seat from the Congress.

“The minister has merely reiterated the party line. He has called for a debate on the usefulness, or otherwise, of Article 370. Attempts to create a needless political controversy are uncalled for,” Mr. Madhav said.

Mr. Abdullah had attacked Dr Singh’s remarks on Article 370 as being “ill-informed and irresponsible.” He took to the micro-blogging site Twitter to register his protest. “Mark my words & save this tweet – long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won’t be part of India or Art 370 will still exist (sic),” he said.

The chief minister also rejected the Union minister’s clarification, issued last night, that he had been “misquoted,” and demanded an explanation from “higher-up.”

Mr. Abdullah continued with his attack on the BJP today, describing as “extremely dangerous” its efforts to seek the revocation of Article 370. He argued that only way to scrap the provision was on the back of the body called Constituent Assembly. “This is the body that ratified the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with India,” he said, adding, “If you were to recall the Constituent Assembly, you would be reopening the debate on the Instrument of Accession.”

BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj took charge as the External Affairs Minister on Wednesday with the promise that she will showcase India’s strengths at the world stage and ensure good relations with all countries.

“My priority is to showcase our strengths to the world and further improve relations with other countries,” she said after assuming charge at her office in South Block.

Sushma also gave details about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with SAARC leaders.
“I assisted the PM in his talks with SAARC leaders. The talks were very successful,” she said.

“I see the talks with Pakistan in a positive light. To Pak PM the PM he repeated what PM had said that under the noise of bomb blasts it’s not possible to have normal talks,” she said.

Sushma added that India wants good relations with Pakistan but that can become possible only if there is no terror.

PM Modi also raised the issue of the speedy trail of 26/11 accused in Pakistan, she said.

On the talks with SAARC leaders, she said, “The PM Stressed on joint initiatives by SAARC nations, like tourism,” adding, “PM expressed the desire that SAARC countries shouldn’t bring up contentious bilateral issues.”

“PM Modi raised issues of Tamil fishermen and 13th amendment with Sri Lankan President,” she said on Modi’s talks with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajpaksa.