New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to take more stringent action against corruption and black money and said on Wednesday that the government has given a ‘free hand’ to the investigation agencies to take the harshest action against the corrupt. The Prime Minister said that no one will be spared in the action. He also targeted the Congress for first making serious allegations with evidence against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later contesting the Lok Sabha elections together and forming an alliance.
Responding to the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi said, “Action against corruption is a mission for us. It is not a matter of victory or defeat in elections for us. When we formed the government in 2014, we had said that our government will work for the welfare of the poor. It will strike hard against corruption and attack black money.” He said, “I am saying this without mincing words and want to tell the countrymen also that we have given free hand to the agencies to take the strictest action against the corrupt and corruption. The government will not interfere anywhere.”
The Prime Minister said, “Yes, they (investigative agencies) should work honestly. No person involved in corruption will be able to escape the law. This is Modi’s guarantee.” Referring to the allegations by opposition members that the government is misusing investigative agencies, Modi cited statements by opposition leaders like late Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had accused the UPA government of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him. The Prime Minister recalled the Supreme Court’s comment in which the CBI was described as a ‘caged parrot’. He said, “Allegations have been made against central investigative agencies. It has been said that the central government is misusing investigative agencies.
He said, “AAP does liquor scam, AAP does corruption, AAP does scam in construction of classrooms for children, you also do water scam… Congress complains against AAP. Congress drags AAP to court and if action is taken then they abuse Modi.” Modi said that Congress presented many proofs of AAP’s scams before the country in the press conference. He said that Congress should now answer whether those proofs were true or false. He said that now AAP and Congress have become allies. He challenged AAP to seek answers from Congress.
Terrorism in Kashmir is in its final stages, we are working on a strategy to eradicate it: Prime Minister
Claiming that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has reached its final stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the government is moving ahead with a strategy to “destroy” the network of terrorism. Prime Minister Modi said this while replying to the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Upper House. He said that the voting figures in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir broke the record of the last four decades. He said that this should not be taken only in the sense that someone went and returned after pressing the button (of EVM).
He said, “They (voters of Jammu and Kashmir) came by accepting the Constitution of India. (They) accept the democracy of India. (They) accept the Election Commission of India. This is a very big success.” The Prime Minister said that the success that the countrymen were waiting for is visible today with such ease and simplicity. He said that in the past several decades in Kashmir, shutdowns, strikes, terrorist threats, attempts of bomb blasts here and there… in a way, democracy was under an eclipse.
He said that this time the people of Jammu and Kashmir have decided their fate by keeping unwavering faith in the Constitution. He specially congratulated the voters of Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister said, “In a way, our fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its final stage. We are moving ahead with a strategy to destroy the network of terrorism.” He said that in the last ten years, terrorist incidents have reduced a lot as compared to earlier. He said that now stone pelting has stopped and news of such an incident may come from some corner. Modi said that terrorism and separatism are ending in Jammu and Kashmir and “the citizens of the state are helping and leading us in this, this is the most trust-building thing.” He said that today tourism there is making new records and investment is increasing.
Congress’s mentality is anti-SC, ST and OBC: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked the opposition party Congress in Rajya Sabha and alleged that its mentality is anti-Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class and that is why it insulted former President Ram Nath Kovind and the country’s first tribal woman President. Prime Minister Modi was responding to the discussion in the Upper House on the motion of thanks to the address given by President Draupadi Murmu in the joint session of Parliament.
He said, “The Congress’s mentality is anti-Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC) due to which the party kept insulting former President Ram Nath Kovind ji. Due to this mentality, it left no stone unturned to insult and oppose the country’s first tribal woman President. They used such words which no one can use.” Prime Minister Modi alleged that the attitude of the Congress has been such that whenever there is a situation of defeat, Dalit leaders are brought forward and that family escapes.
In this context, he said, “…you must have seen the issue of the Speaker’s election in the Lok Sabha, defeat was certain in that too but who was put forward – they played the game of sacrificing a Dalit, they knew that he was going to lose but they put him forward.” The Prime Minister said that in the 2022 Vice Presidential election, Congress put Sushil Kumar Shinde forward even though defeat was certain. He said that in the 2017 Presidential election, defeat was certain, but they made Meera Kumar contest.
He said sarcastically, “… Meanwhile, our Congress people are also rejoicing. I cannot understand what is the reason for this happiness? There are many questions on this? Is this happiness on a hat-trick of defeats? Is this happiness on falling prey to ‘Nervous 90’? Is this happiness on another failed ‘launch’?” Modi said, “I was watching when Kharge was looking full of enthusiasm. Perhaps Kharge ji has done a great service to his party because this is the blame of defeat, he saved those on whom the blame should have fallen and himself stood like a wall.” He said, “The attitude of the Congress has been such that whenever such a situation arises, it is the Dalits and the backwards who have to bear the brunt and that family escapes.”