Determined to end termite of corruption: Modi

“I assure you that in one year, Team India with its renewed confidence has committed itself to fulfill all dreams”.

“Be it the poison of casteism or the frenzy of communalism, these have no place in the country and should not be allowed to grow. It is these 125 crore Indians that ensure both the progress and protection of India“.

Other steps had been taken to tackle black money – from the appointment of a special probe team to enacting a stringent law.

“They struggled for India’s dignity”.

He said the country’s youth be given opportunities and support to become entrepreneurs in their own right, notably the deprived.

The initiative, Modi stated, would give a brand new dimension to entrepreneurship and assist in setting up a community of begin-ups within the nation. He then went on to list some of his government’s accomplishments, mainly those aimed at India’s poor.

Vowing to eradicate corruption, he pointed out how Rs 300,000 crore flowed into the exchequer because of the transparent auctions of resources such as telecom spectrum, coal and minerals.

The right-wing premier, who has been accused of being too close to big business, portrayed himself as a champion of the poor by promising to help farmers and lower-caste dalits, formerly known as untouchables. We decided this must end.

Frequently mopping his brow on a swelteringly hot day, Modi said he had striven to enable 170 million people to open bank accounts for the first time under a government-run scheme. “Bank accounts are essential for integrating the poor into the financial system”.

But 12 months on, problems are mounting up for the usually bullish prime minister and his opponents were in no mood to be generous this time round. Be it MyGov, letters from citizens, Mann Ki Baat, communication with people – Jan Bhagidari is increasing. In the last three decades relations between the UAE and India have not only grown but flourished, and many expect this trip will further boost the bilateral agreement between the two countries and stimulate trade, investment and cultural ties. People wondered what kind of PM is he, talking about these issues. But “if there is something that has touched every person, it is the movement towards cleanliness”, he said in his second Independence Day address. He is focussed on young India, the start-up potential of India. We want to change this approach. It has to start from the top. “Corruption is like a termite, it spreads slowly, reaches everywhere but it can be beaten with timely injections”. He acknowledged that the corruption is a termite, which needs bitter medicine, with possible side-effects, to cure.

Modi mentioned the PAHAL scheme for direct transfer of LPG subsidy, which has resulted in savings of Rs. “Because of this middlemen and black marketers have been hit”, he said.

At one point Modi even appeared to sneer at previous governments, saying that all governments make plans and promises but that his has actually delivered. 15,000 crore. The doors of banks are closed for them.

11-year-old Aliya, a class 6 student at the Khalsa Girls School in Chandani Chowk, said, “we had worked very hard for this. We are putting in gas pipelines”. If that is the case, is this now agenda shifting as we are getting into poll season with several states going into election mode? He also flung aside criticism of his government not moving on key issues by rolling out facts and figures of work done for the poor – whether it is the Jan Dhan Yojana or the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

But he emphasized the need for reforms in agriculture.

He said the twin-motto must be: “Save Water, Save Fertilizer” and “Per Drop More Crop”.

While the government agrees with OROP, they are still working on it, and Modi promised the forces that it will soon be announced.

“The country is not ready to wait that long”, he said.