Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Hindi publication Hindustan (File).
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit again at claims by the opposition – that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Occasion makes use of central businesses to focus on rivals, notably earlier than an election – by saying solely three per cent of the Enforcement Directorate’s instances are linked to politicians.
“Let me inform you a truth that’s not mentioned a lot. Of the corruption instances probed by the ED, solely three per cent (are towards) folks related to politics. The remaining 97 per cent instances are linked to officers and criminals,” the Prime Minister stated in an unique interplay with Hindi outlet Hindustan,
The Prime Minister additionally emphasised his anti-corruption stance, saying, “Eliminating corruption has been a key precedence of our authorities for 10 years”, and countered the opposition’s declare that motion is taken solely towards rival political leaders or in non-BJP dominated states. “Steps are being taken even in states the place the BJP is in energy,” he stated.
“The narratives you’ve heard – that it is just political corruption that we’re after – are being circulated by people who find themselves below the sword of investigative businesses,” he declared.
Mr Modi’s authorities is below heavy hearth after ED motion towards senior opposition leaders, together with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy, Manish Sisodia. Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief Okay Kavitha and ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren have been additionally arrested.
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Mr Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Occasion and Mr Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are each members of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc, whereas the BRS is led by former Telangana Chief Minister Okay Chandrasekhar Rao (Okay Kavitha is his daughter), who’s seen as a fierce critic of the BJP.
Following the AAP boss’ arrest on March 21 – weeks earlier than the 2024 Lok Sabha election – the INDIA bloc launched a fierce assault on Prime Minister Modi’s celebration, claiming it had acted out of worry.
Arguing towards his arrest within the Delhi Excessive Court docket, Mr Kejriwal – who will likely be in jail until Monday – stated his arrest had been timed to disrupt the AAP’s election marketing campaign in Delhi and Punjab. His allies – Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi – have lashed at out the BJP and Mr Modi.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, additionally an INDIA member, and Nationalist Congress Occasion veteran Sharad Pawar additionally reacted; Mr Pawar condemned the “vindictive misuse of central businesses to focus on the opposition, particularly as common elections loom”.
READ | “ED, CBI Impartial. Nothing To Do With Us”: Union Minister
The centre, nonetheless, has rubbished such claims, insisting the businesses involved are appearing independently and consistent with the Prime Minister’s objective of wiping out corruption in any respect ranges.
READ | Congress Cannot Suppose Past Dynasty, Corruption: PM Modi
The Prime Minister, who routinely assaults the opposition, notably the Congress, over allegations of corruption and accuses the celebration of training nepotism, additionally shared knowledge to indicate the elevated and different scale of Enforcement Directorate motion since 2014, when the BJP first got here to energy.
READ | “Whoever Has Looted Nation Will Pay”: PM Modi On Corruption
“The ED has additionally arrested many corrupt officers,” the Prime Minister stated.
“Belongings value hundreds of crores (belonging to) corrupt bureaucrats and criminals linked to illicit funding and drug sellers have been hooked up. Earlier than 2014, the ED hooked up belongings value solely Rs 5,000 crore, whereas within the final 10 years that quantity has elevated to over Rs 1 trillion.”
The PM welcomed the elevated quantities of cash seized – “Rs 34 lakh in money earlier than 2014 and over Rs 2,200 crore below our authorities” – stating the funds could possibly be used for the folks.
“Think about… if this cash was invested in welfare schemes for the poor, what number of would profit… what number of alternatives could possibly be created for the youth… infrastructure initiatives may be launched.”
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