andalib akhter / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today clarified that the fight against corruption and black money was not a political one and not targeted against any party. Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Modi said, the action against the corruption will empower the honest.
Attacking the Congress he said that in 1971 then PM Indira Gandhi had been advised by her FM to demonetise currency but he was ignored. He also retorted sharply to opposition’s attempts to question the RBI’s autonomy.
He said, corruption has adversely impacted the aspirations of the poor and the middle class. He said, government will have to be tough on those who are cheating the system and only then the hands of the poor will be strengthened.
Mr Modi emphasised the need for stronger action against the corrupt. Mr Modi said, India is working to correct the wrongs that entered the society. He thanked the people for supporting government’s decision of demonetisation.
PM remarks against Manmohan Singh ‘unacceptable’: Cong
In the midst of the reply, Congress and SP staged a walk out from the Rajya Sabha protesting Prime Minister Modi’s remarks against former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Reacting on the Congress walk out from the House, Prime Minister Modi said if the opposition breach decorum, they should show courage to listen to the response too.
The Prime Minister also criticized the opposition for dragging the name of RBI governor saying that such institutions should be kept beyond politics. He asserted that his government has taken steps to maintain the autonomy of RBI including amending the RBI Act to set up Monetary Policy Committee.
On the Swach Bharat Abhiyan, Mr. Modi said it should be made a peoples’ movement. He said after the launch of the campaign, the sanitation has increased from 42 percent to 60 percent in the rural area.
Later, the House adopted the motion on President’s address amidst walkout by Left, JD(U) and TMC members. Lok Sabha had already adopted the motion.