UPA govt 'most corrupt' post-Independence: Narendra Modi

CHENNAI: Mounting a scathing attack on the ruling UPA coalition at the Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said it was the "most corrupt" government after Independence even as there was a "lack of direction and leadership at the Central level".

"The UPA government is neck deep in trouble, owing to explicit greed for power and position. It is least concerned about consolidation and expansion of the economy. The present government is by far the most corrupt after Independence," he said at the 42nd anniversary celebrations of Tamil weekly 'Thuglaq', edited by noted political commentator Cho Ramaswamy.

Charging the Congress-led UPA with harping on vote bank politics, he said it had resulted only in "gloom and pessimism".

"Post-Independence, the Congress party's single rule of negative vote bank politics for almost 40 years has spread an atmosphere of gloom and pessimism," he said.

In 2012, the country was faced with many problems such as slowing down of economic growth, menace of terrorism, naxalism, corruption and inflation, Modi said.

Despite increase in the level of aspiration and willingness for hardwork on the part of citizens, the country is not moving forward due to lack of direction and leadership at the Central level, he said.