Law against benami properties to be implemented soon: Modi

CHECKING CORRUPTION: We have revived a 1998 law, says the prime minister

NEW DELHI: Lauding the public for their support in exposing the wrong-doings of the corrupt postdemonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday promised to operationalise the law to deal with benami properties as part of the government’s campaign against corruption.

“You are possibly aware of a law about benami property in our country which came into being in 1988, but neither were its rules ever framed, nor was it notified. It just lay dormant,” Modi said in his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address.

“We have retrieved it and turned it into an incisive law against benami property. In the coming days, this law will also become operational,” he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about some who are devising “newer wily ways and means” to counter the government’s fight against corruption. “Everyday many new people are being taken into custody, currency notes are being seized, raids are being carried out. Influential persons are being caught. The secret is that my source of such information are people themselves,” he said.

“Information being received from common citizens is many times higher than that being obtained through the government machinery,” he added.

Defending the frequent changes in rules after demonetisation, he said: “The government, being a sensitive government, amends rules as required, keeping the convenience of the people as its foremost consideration, so that citizens are not subjected to hardships.

“To counter these new offensives, we too have to devise appropriate new responses and antidotes. When the opponents keep on trying out new tactics, we have to counteract decisively since we have resolved to eradicate the corrupt, shady businesses and black money.” He also said that rumours spread by some people that political parties enjoy various concessions and exemptions “are wrong”.

“Some people are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all kinds of concessions. These people are absolutely in the wrong. The law applies equally to all. Whether it is an individual, an organisation or a political party, everyone has to abide by law and everyone will have to,” he said. INDIA DOING WELL Modi said India is doing well on the economic front, which is evident from different global reports. He said different indicators showed an increase in India’s global rankings. “The Doing Business report of the World Bank has increased India’s ranking....”

The Prime Minister said Indian farmers, despite the difficult situation, have broken last year’s record in sowing different crops. “Whether it is the farmers or the labourer, the hardwork of the youth is bearing fruits,” Modi said.

According to UN Conference on Trade and Development’s World Investment Report, India is in third place in Top Prospective Host Economies. In the Global Competitiveness Report of World Economic Forum, India has jumped to the 32nd rank,” Modi said. “We are trying to make business practices in India the best practices in the world, and succeeding as well.” He said in the Global Innovation Index 2016, India has gone up by 16 points while in World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2016, we have gone up 19 ranks. “There are many reports that indicate that India is moving ahead swiftly,” the Prime Minister said.