Aware of political risks in my war against corruption, says Modi
new delhi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said opposition criticism won’t deter him from his government’s war against corruption and black money as he was willing to pay any political price for the steps he had taken to weed out graft.
Addressing the opening session of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here, Modi said his government was committed to developing a development-centric eco system which is free of graft and is people-centric.
“I am aware of the political price I will have to pay for the steps taken by the government but I am ready for it,” he said, referring to demonetisation and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax as measures to tackle graft and black money.
He said post demonetisation, black money, which was part of a parallel economy, has now become part of the formal system as data mining after the note ban has helped the government crack down against those hoarding unaccounted wealth and involved in corruption.
He said there has been a “positive change” in the mindset and self-confidence of people “like never before”, ever since his government came to power in 2014.
“If we see the country as a living entity then the positive attitude that has come to India, was
I am aware of the political price I will have to pay for the steps taken by the government but I am ready for it.” Narendra Modi, prime minister
never before,” Modi said.
Earlier the youth, women, farmers and the poor had minimal faith in the country’s resources, the Prime Minister said.
Emphasising that the citizens of India in 2014 not just voted to change the government, Modi said people also wanted and, therefore, voted for a “change in system that will be permanent, stable and irreversible”.
“Everywhere in the country, someone had to fight with the system day and night. I am trying and have committed that there will be irreversible change -- ease of living will improve.”
Describing Aadhaar as a major “power” to bring about an “irreversible change” in the common man’s life, the Prime Minister said the Unique Identification Number would now be used in cases involving benami properties.
“By linking Aadhaar to mobile (phones) and bank accounts, we have created such a system that could not have been imagined few years back. —