NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday came out in strong defence of
ED
and other
agencies
and said he had given them a free hand to take up cases of corruption, unlike the trend before 2014 when agencies were not allowed to act freely.
Asserting that he followed a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, Modi said the drive against graft would be further intensified in his next term.
Though a reiteration of his backing for ED, the PM’s remarks at a media event were significant because they came in the wake of the opposition’s accusation that govt had used
central agencies
to intimidate opponents and coerce businesses to contribute to BJP’s political coffer. The
opposition
intensified its
campaign
last week by drawing a linkage between donations made by a few business houses through
electoral bonds
and ED’s probes facing them.
Modi He dismissed the criticism as a reflection of the anxiety that has gripped many because of his thrust on fighting corruption. “That is why they have taken to abusing me,” he said.
“Properties worth Rs 5,000 crore were attached before 2014 but in the past 10 years, properties worth over Rs 1 lakh crore have been attached. I never interfered with the working of the agencies and instructions were given to act on merit,” the PM said and recalled the seizure of cash from opposition leaders to say that action on this scale was bound to disturb them.
“Another major aspect of our governance has been zero tolerance towards corruption. Every agency is completely independent to take action against corruption,” Modi said and added, “ED has arrested a large number of criminals related to terror financing, criminals related to cyber crime and criminals related to narcotics. Assets worth thousands of crores of these people have been attached.”
He said ED’s action against many bureaucrats and recovery of bundles of currency notes had attracted the attention of the entire country. “Now, when such rapid action takes place, it is natural for some people to feel stomach ache. That is why they are running a campaign of abusing Modi day and night. The country is also seeing that the policies, intentions and loyalty of these people are under question in every way. The country is clearly saying to such people, so sorry,” he added.
English (US) ·