Will risk even my life but will not give up the fight against black money: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: In an emotionally charged speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took on the political parties and others criticising the demonetisation move, asserting that he is ready to risk even his life but will not give up the fight against black money.

Speaking at programmes in Panaji, Goa and Belagavi, Karnataka, Modi asked the people to bear the inconvenience for a few days and stressed on the need for cashless transactions by using plastic money.

He slammed the Congress in particular, saying they did not take any measures to curb black money and several cases of corruption took place during UPA rule. “I know that (some) forces are up against me, they may not let me live, they may ruin me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble, but I am prepared,” Modi said in his speech.

“This government does not want to bother honest people but doesn’t want to spare the dishonest. Bear with me for 50 days. Has India been looted or not? ..... I am not going to stop at this. I will expose the history of corruption of 70 years since Independence,” he added.

Modi had announced during his recent Japan visit that the fight against black money will not stop on December 30 (the deadline for changing old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes).

Also Read: Old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes now illegal, live news reports and developments

“This (demonetisation) is not an end. I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free. .... We will take action against ‘benami’ property. This is major step to eradicate corruption and black money ... If any money that was looted in India and has left Indian shores, it is our duty to find out about it,” he said in his speeches at Panaji and Belagavi.

Attacking the Congress, PM said, “Those who were involved in the coal scam, 2G scam and other scams, now have to stand in queues to exchange Rs 4,000.” “When Congress stopped 25 paise, did we say anything? You could dare to stop only 25 paise, that’s what your power was limited to. But you did not make higher denomination currency notes illegal.... We did it. People have chosen a government and they expect so much from it,” he added.

Congress later countered this, with senior party leader Ahmed Patel asking on twitter whether those common people standing in queues outside bank ATMs are scamsters. Modi said people the mandate of 2014 polls was against corruption.

Underlining his seriousness on the issue of black money, the Prime Minister said soon after his government was formed a Supreme Court monitored SIT was constituted to probe Indian money illegally parked abroad.