NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a veiled dig at former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and other opposition leaders when he remarked that the war on Corruption has ensured that the “rich and powerful” are no longer above the law.
Speaking at an NCC rally, PM Modi said that earlier, the common man used to believe that corrupt people in power always managed to elude justice, but this is no longer the case.
“Today there are three former chief ministers rotting in Jail. Getting rid of this ‘termite’ of corruption will help the poor most,” PM Modi said, without taking any names.
But it’s no stretch of the imagination that Lalu Prasad was foremost in the Prime Minister’s mind, as only last week he was convicted in the Chaibasa fodder scam case. He was awarded a five-year jail term along with another former Bhar CM, Jagannath Mishra. Also in jail in connection with a corruption case is former Haryana CM O P Chautala.
The RJD chief is already lodged in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi, where he is serving a three-and-half-year sentence in the second fodder scam case related to illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deogarh treasury.
Corruption in the Yadav clan was ostensibly the reason behind Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar‘s decision to break away from the Grand Alliance comprising the JD(U), RJD and the Congress last year.
The Prime Minister asserted that his crusade against corruption will go on and those guilty of graft will not be spared.
“Youths of India refuses to accept corruption. The fight against corruption and black money will not stop. This is a fight for the future of India’s youths,” Modi said.
He also sought the help of NCC cadets and other youngsters in promoting digital transactions, saying it will curb corruption.
“My young friends, I am here to ask for something. No, I am not here for seeking votes or politics. My appeal is- please further digital transactions through the BHIM App. Please also get others on that platform. This is a step towards transparency and accountability,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Source : timesofindia
