As the Opposition continues to attack the Centre for using investigative agencies as a “tool to suppress” dissent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified that action will be taken against any level of corruption that impacts the people of India.
In an interview with Hindustan, the Prime Minister pushed back against the Opposition’s allegations and made it clear probes will be launched on whoever steals the money which is meant for people’s welfare.
He emphasised that eliminating corruption has always been the key priority of the government in the last 10 years. “I am committed to taking strict action against the corrupt,” PM Modi averred.
“Whatever be the level of corruption, it impacts the people of the country… action against such people, who steal the money meant for the welfare of the people of this country, will not end,” he added.
Only 3% of corruption cases before ED are political: PM Modi
PM Modi also pointed out that of all the corruption cases before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), only three per cent are related to people associated with politics.
“Of the corruption cases before the ED, only three per cent are of persons associated with politics. The remaining 97 per cent of cases involve officers and other criminals. Action is being taken against them also. Those who see benefits in the corrupt system are presenting a wrong picture to the people,” the Prime Minister said.
“ED has also arrested many corrupt officers. Assets worth thousands of crores of corrupt bureaucrats, criminals involved in terrorist funding and drug smugglers have also been confiscated,” the Prime Minister furthered.
PM Modi explains steps taken by his administration to remove corruption
The Prime Minister highlighted how his government have made solid efforts to eliminate corruption at various levels. “We ended Group C and Group D interviews in central recruitments. We started the National Single Window System for clearance in the country. We tried to make government services as faceless as possible,” he said.
He went on to cite the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system, PM Modi stated that his administration has removed the names of over 100 million fake beneficiaries. “By doing this, the government saved Rs 2.75 lakh crore from going into the wrong hands,” he explained.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the administration’s crackdown on corruption can be measured by the amount of cash the ED has seized over the years.
“Before 2014, ED attached assets worth only Rs 5,000 crores, whereas in the last 10 years, that amount has increased to more than Rs 1 lakh crore,” PM Modi remarked.
“Before 2014, ED had seized only Rs 34 lakh in cash, while under our government it has seized more than Rs 2,200 crore in cash. Imagine, if this money was invested in welfare schemes for the poor, how many people would have benefited, how many opportunities could have been created for the youth,” he furthered.
He concluded his argument by taking potshots at the opposition and slammed them for spreading “such narratives”.
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