Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong statement against corruption in his speech to the BJP’s extended national executive in New Delhi on Monday, reacting to Opposition criticism over demonetisation, saying that his stand against corruption was “uncompromising.”
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley briefed the media about Mr. Modi’s address to a closed door meet of the extended executive including chief ministers of 13 BJP ruled States, more than 60 Union ministers, 232 ministers in various State governments, 1515 MLAs and 334 MPs of the party.
“Prime Minister Modi categorically said his battle against corruption was uncompromising and that he was not going to spare anyone. He added that he had no relatives,” said Mr. Jaitley quoting from Prime Minister Modi’s speech.
Mr. Jaitley, while specifically answering a question on criticism of demonetisation by the opposition, including finance ministers of the past government, said he did not expect “those at the receiving end of anti-corruption drives” to praise the move. Opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government over demonetisation and cited the recent RBI figures on its adverse impact.
“Prime Minister Modi also referred to the opposition in two contexts. He said that for other parties, being in government was a means to consume, and now as an opposition they did not know how to react. Sometimes harsh words are used by the Opposition, but harsh language cannot be used as a substitute for any substantive charge against the government,” Mr. Jaitley said, referring to some of the exchanges that have been taking place in public discourse.
He added that Prime Minister Modi referred to the closing of the celebrations of the centenary year of Jan Sangh’s founding general secretary, Deendayal Upadhyaya as an affirmation of the pro-poor and pro-farmer tilt of the government.
“He spoke of the savings that accrued to the government with the use of Aadhaar, and gave the examples of Chandigarh and Puducherry where Aadhaar and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) had worked to target benefits under various programmes. Panchayats of beneficiaries under the LPG distribution scheme, Ujjwala Yojana and Mudra Yojana were to be held,” said Mr Jaitley.