"We have signed a protocol amending the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement with Switzerland last August. As per their law and Constitution, their international agreements are to be ratified by both houses of Parliament and local authorities.
"The ratification by the two houses are over.
Ratification by local authorities may be over by the end of this year," Mukherjee told newsmen at India House here last evening.
Answering a question on BJP President Nitin Gadkari`s demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram following a certain statement by former Telecom Minister A Raja -- who is under arrest and faces charges in connection to alleged irregularities in the award of 2G spectrum -- Mukherjee said: "I don`t know what evidence Raja has given, apart from making a statement. The matter is before the court and it is for the court to decide."
Raja told a Delhi court hearing the 2G case yesterday that Chidambaram, then Finance Minister, had told the Prime Minister that dilution of shares by 2G licencees to attract FDI did not not amount to sale of licence. Gadkari had subsequently demanded the resignation of Singh and Chidambaram, stating that what Raja said in court showed that the top leadership of the government was aware of all 2G transactions.