Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee says that the government had started vigorous measures on weeding out corruption long before the agitation by the civil society. Talking exclusively to Prasar Bharati, the Finance Minister says, a Group of Ministers under his chairmanship was set up as early as January this year on issues like state funding of elections and Lokpal Bill, fast tracking of cases of public servants accused of corruption and transparency in public procurement policy. The agitation by civil society activists came only in April and by that time the recommendations of the Group of Ministers had already been sent for vetting to the Law Ministry. Apart from fast tracking of cases against corrupt public servants, the GoM has recommended expediting the setting up of 71 Special CBI Courts which have already been sanctioned. 10 courts are already operational. Finance Minister says, bringing Prime Minister under Lokpal will result in institutionalised Permanant instability at the Centre. Strongly defending the government for not bringing the Prime Minister in the ambit of draft Lokpal Bill, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, if PM is destabilized, entire government's stability is put in a serious question in the parliamentary democracy. On Anna Hazare's threat to go on indefinite fast from August 16, Mukherjee said if the Gandhian felt that the civil society bill was the best, he should convince political parties supporting him to get it passed in Parliament even without discussion. On the issue of black money stashed away abroad, Finance Minister said, details of assets and payments received by Indian citizens in several countries have started coming in and are being investigated. These are now under different stages of processing. He said, information about wealth stashed away in Swiss banks by Indians is expected by the government before the end of the year. Already government has received names of 16 or 17 black money holders from Lichtenstein.