Crackdown on corruption to continue: PM Modi in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (May 13) pledged to persist with his government's anti-corruption efforts, dismissing opposition accusations of central agency misuse.

Addressing an election rally in Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, Modi said the money recovered in raids against politicians “belonged to the country’s poor”.

“I will tell you why they are crying hoarse against the action of agencies like the ED. During the previous Congress regime, the ED seized only Rs 35 lakh, which could be contained in a school bag. Ever since we took over, the agency has recovered Rs 2,200 crore, which would require 70 small trucks to be carried,” said the PM.

Modi said unlike his opponents, who were concerned about promoting their offspring, “I have no ‘waaris’ (successor). The common people are my waaris”.

He reiterated the charge that parties like the Congress and RJD, which “allowed extortion and kidnapping to flourish” while in power, will “give away reservations” to Muslims “to pursue their vote bank politics”, but added that “as long as I am alive, I will not let this happen”.

“Kidnapping and extortion flourished during the RJD rule in Bihar... NDA fights for social justice, 60 per cent Union ministers from OBC/SC/ST categories,” he asserted.

The prime minister also accused the opposition parties of “deliberately hurting people’s sentiments by making obnoxious statements about the Ram temple in Ayodhya”.

Speaking on a day when the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections were underway, he urged the people to turn out in large numbers and vote for the NDA to enable formation of a strong government.

In his speech, Modi also touched upon his government’s track record on development, citing construction of highways at a rapid rate and underscoring commitment to social justice and empowerment, while accusing the opposition of trying to put hurdles in the way of measures like women’s reservations.

(With agency inputs)