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Celebrating the second anniversary of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said a “change” has come in the last two years through good governance and vowed to root out corruption and make life easier for the people who have been “looted” for years.
Without naming the Congress, he accused the opposition party of pursuing the agenda of obstructionism and expressed confidence that people can see through it and find truth.
Recalling the scams and scandals during the United Progressive Alliance governments including in coal block allocation, the prime minister said checking the menace of corruption is the focus of his government and people can see it when compared with that of previous dispensations.
“As long as we do not remember the work done during the days of the previous government, we will not be able to realise that what a big task has been accomplished,” he said.
“I am standing before people of the country with satisfaction. We have been able to get the trust and enthusiasm of people despite a very minute examination of our work. The trust of people is growing day by day. This also increases our confidence.
“I cannot say this about those for whom opposing us is necessary for political reasons. That is also natural. But I want to say one thing. On one hand there is the agenda of development (vikaswaad) and on the other hand is the agenda of obstructionism (virodhvaad),” he said.
Speaking at the event “Ek Nayi Subah”, which was held in talkathon format spread over nearly six hours with most of the ministers in attendance, the prime minister said that his government has not taken any decision with “malafide intention”.
Modi assured people that his government was working very hard and doing everything to live up to the faith they have reposed in him.
“I am here to assure you that we are doing everything to live up to the faith people have reposed in us. And the country has seen that no decision was taken with any malafide intention, no effort was spared in working hard and we have dedicated ourselves to people’s cause by keeping their and national interest paramount.
“It is true that those who have pocketed money will face difficulties and feel the pinch. Who have pocketed it and when have they pocketed it is not my subject but it is the money belonging to the poor and will not be allowed to go to others,” he said.
Giving figures, the prime minister said about Rs 36,000 crore has been saved annually by plugging leakages in various programmes and said those who were benefitting from corruption are the ones who are feeling “hurt”.
“Some people tell me that I do so much work and yet face so much opposition and abuse. They advise to engage with media more and rectify communication strategy. How do I convince them that those who were beneficiaries of the 36,000 crore will abuse me when I have stopped this loot of public money,” the PM said.
Modi said that the biggest change has been infusing confidence in people and working with commitment to fulfil their expectations.
Rejecting criticism by Congress, which has said that Modi government has done nothing in the last two years, the prime minister said the country has seen that his dispensation has spared no effort in working hard and totally dedicated itself to work for the nation and common masses.
“People are capable to find out the truth by comparing this agenda of development and the agenda of obstructionism. While every step taken by the government should be evaluated minutely, my concern is that nothing should be done which throws the country in an abyss of despair,” he said.