Rs 4.5 lakh crore would’ve vanished if UPA had been in power: PM Modi

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday referred to Rajiv Gandhi’s famous remark that only 15% of Central funds reached the targeted beneficiaries to attack the Congress, saying if his government followed the “corrupt practices” set by the previous UPA regime, nearly Rs 4.5 lakh crore would have vanished from the state coffers.

Addressing the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, without taking Rajiv’s name, Modi said the former had himself acknowledged corruption in his government. “Ek poorva pradhan mantri ne baat kahi ki kendra sarkar jo paise bhejti hai uska 15% hi logon tak pahunchhta hai…baaki chhumantar ho jata hai. (A former PM said only 15% reaches target beneficiaries. The rest 85% vanishes).’’ He pointed out that nearly Rs 5.5 lakh crore was transferred in the beneficiaries’ account under various welfare schemes through direct benefit transfer (DBT) and added, “If money was transferred according to practices of the previous government, at least Rs 4.5 lakh crore would have vanished.”

The PM said his government had removed at least seven crore ghost beneficiaries from the data bank. “We pledge to remove more farji (fake) people,” he said.

“I also want to tell you today’s truth as well. We used technology to end this loot of 85% completely,” he said.

The counter attack by Modi comes in the wake of continuous barbs by Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the controversial Rafael deal.