Change has come, says PM; vows to root out corruption (video)

New Delhi

The Narendra Modi government today celebrated its two years in office with an event, which had a smattering of Bollywood actors, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan where the Prime Minister vowed to root out corruption and make life easier for people “looted” for years.

A battery of Union Ministers dwelt at length on the “achievements” of the BJP-led NDA dispensation at the centrepiece event which was held at historic India Gate.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and many of his ministerial colleagues spoke about numerous steps taken by the government across sectors, while some Cabinet Ministers joined in from different parts of the country, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Vijaywada.

Without naming the Congress, Modi accused the opposition party of pursuing the agenda of “obstructionism” and recalled the scams and scandals that took place under the UPA governments, including in coal block allocation.

The Prime Minister said checking the menace of corruption is the focus of his government and people can see it when compared with that of previous dispensations.

“As long as we do not remember the work done during the days of the previous government, we will not be able to realize that what a big task has been accomplished,” he said.

“I am standing before people of the country with satisfaction. We have been able to to get the trust and enthusiasm of people despite a very minute examination of our work. The trust of people is growing day by day. This also increases our confidence,” Modi said speaking at the event “Ek Nayi Subah”, which was in a talkathon format spread over nearly six hours.

“On one hand there is the agenda of development (vikaswaad) and on the other hand is the agenda of obstructionsism (virodhvaad),” he said.

The event, which was telecast live by Doordarshan across the country, also saw superstar Amitabh Bachchan talk about one of the government’s flagship programmes ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’.

Addressing the gathering Finance Minister Arun Jaitley warned of strict action against people stashing black money and said prosecution would be initiated against those found to have parked funds illegally in accounts named in ‘Panama Papers’.

“If illegal money is found in accounts of those who are named in Panama case, then they will also be prosecuted as in case of HSBC accounts,” he said.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the Modi government has changed the style of governance and ended policy paralysis that existed during the previous UPA regime.

He added that government has brought in transparency and cut down red tape.

Food and Public Distribution System Minister Ram Vilas Paswan lauded the government’s electrification programme, saying it has benefited the poor and dalits most. More PTI KR AMR SKC TDS PYK HC SAP NAB ADS SK

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government is trying to provide technology for the poor for their empowerment.

“This country is changing and we have to take it forward,” he said, adding that e-commerce is also progressing fast.

Prasad said Digital India will transform the country and the mission is to bring governance to the “palm of the people”.

HRD minister Smriti Irani spoke about the government’s efforts to impart skill education in the country.

Maneka Gandhi, Union Women and Child Development Minister, said the government has strengthened anganwadi centres to tackle malnutrition and taken several child reform initiatives to ensure their safety and security.

“There was no check on Anganwadis since they were established, as a result of which malnutrition went on increasing. So, we put the entire system on reform mode,” she said.

Talking about children’s immunisation cover, Health Minister J P Nadda said it has increased five to six per cent in the past two years with the government’s Mission Indradhanush programme.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was among the very few senior Cabinet members who did not participate in the event due to illness.

“I am recovering from illness. I will join our Government’s celebrations very soon,” she said while replying to a query on twitter.

Apart from Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju were not part of the event.

Change has come, says PM; vows to root out corruption
New Delhi

Celebrating second anniversary of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said a “change” has come in the last two years through good governance and vowed to root out corruption and make life easier for the people who have been “looted” for years.

Without naming Congress, he accused the Opposition party of pursuing the agenda of obstructionism and expressed confidence that people can see through it and find truth.

Recalling the scams and scandals during the UPA governments including in coal block allocation, the Prime Minister said checking the menace of corruption is the focus of his government and people can see it when compared with that of previous dispensations.

“As long as we do not remember the work done during the days of the previous government, we will not be able to realize that what a big task has been accomplished,” he said.

“I am standing before people of the country with satisfaction. We have been able to to get the trust and enthusiasm of people despite a very minute examination of our work. The trust of people is growing day by day. This also increases our confidence.

“I cannot say this about those for whom opposing us is necessary for political reasons. That is also natural. But I want to say one thing. On one hand there is the agenda of development (vikaswaad) and on the other hand is the agenda of obstructionsism (virodhvaad),” he said.

Speaking at the the event “Ek Nayi Subah”, which was held in talkathon format spread over nearly six hours with most of the ministers in attendance, the Prime Minister said that his government has not taken any decision with “malafide intention”.

Modi assured people that his government was working very hard and doing everthing to live up to the faith they have reposed in him.

“I am here to assure you that we are doining everything to live up to the faith people have reposed in us. And the country has seen that no decision was taken with any malafide intention, no effort was spared in working hard and we have dedicated ourselves to people’s cause by keeping their and national interest paramount.

“It is true that those who have pocketed money will face difficulties and feel the pinch. Who have pocketed it and when have they pocketed it is not my subject but it is the money belonging to the poor and will not be allowed to go to others,” he said.

Giving figures, the Prime Minister said about Rs 36,000 crore has been saved annually by plugging leakages in various programmes and said those who were benefitting from corruption are the ones who are feeling “hurt”.

“Some people tell me that I do so much work and yet face so much opposition and abuse. They advise to engage with media more and rectify communciation strategy. How do I convince them that those who were beneficiaries of the 36,000 crore will abuse me when I have stopped this loot of public money,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi said that the biggest change has been infusing confidence in people and working with committment to fulfil their expectations.

Rejecting criticism by Congress, which has said that Modi government has done nothing in the last two years, the Prime Minister said the country has seen that his dispensation has spared no effort in working hard and totally dedicated itself to work for the nation and common masses.

“People are capable to find out the truth by comparing this agenda of development and the agenda of obstructionism.

While every step taken by the government should be evaluated minutely, my concern is that nothing should be done which throws the country in an abyss of despair,” he said.

Noting that sometimes he comes across criticism, which has no basis, Modi said that the evaluation of his government has to be done in the context of the functioning of the previous governments.

Claiming to have brought a transparent auction system for coal blocks allocation, he reminded that the previous government had got “defamed” due to corruption in this sector, which was widely reported by the media then.

The Prime Minister said that the importance of his government’s efforts on this can be understood if it is examined why such a massive corruption happened earlier on this issue.

“Corruption is hollowing out our country hollow like termites. If there is one thing, which can shatter our dreams for developing the nation, it is this moth of corruption and we are committed to root it out,” he said.

Detailing the government’s achievement in plugging leakages, the Prime Minister said that a sum of Rs 15,000 crore was saved by weeding out fake beneficiaries of LPG subsidies.

Modi said his government had also detected over 1.62 crore fake ration cards and listed some measures taken in other BJP-ruled states in this direction.

“It is only a beginning. It is a new dawn,” he said, asserting that his government will continue with such measures in next three years of its term.”

Noting that 1.13 crore people have given up subsidy on LPG on his call, he said it was remarkable as issues like whether to give nine or 12 subsidised cylinders per year had dominated the political discourse.

Modi said had he announced a power plant with an investment of 1 lakh crore, then it would be hailed as big news and some people would have wondered where the money will come from but the fact that his government is going to save similar amount of money with supply to LED bulbs to 500 cities, thereby saving 20 thousand megawat of power does not make news.

PTI