Weeding out graft biggest achievement of Narendra Modi government: Arun Jaitley

MUMBAI: With the first anniversary of the Narendra Modi government approaching, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said weeding out corruption has been one of the biggest achievements of the BJP-led dispensation.

"In the past one year, the word 'corruption' has been removed from the political dictionary," he said while launching three social sector schemes here this evening.

Jaitley said he can point out at least 100 corruption scandals under the previous Congress-led UPA Government but the Modi dispensation has been able to keep off such controversies. He specifically pointed to the policy of auctioning national resources which has helped achieve a corruption-free administration.

The Government has been able to end the practice of "rent-seeking" by corporates and also visits to Ministries in North Block and South Block to get works done, he said.

"Among the policies adopted by the Government in the past one year, not one has been criticised as a step in the wrong direction."

Jaitley, a powerful figure in Modi Cabinet, said re- establishing the credibility of economy was the first priority in the past 12 months, after which focus was on specifics like getting capital and making it easier to do business.

Sounding dissatisfied with the growth rate, which has inched up to 7.5 per cent, Jaitley said he is unhappy because the economy has potential to clock double-digits expansion.

He said the economy was hit both by global slowdown as well as the 'policy paralysis' and task before the NDA Government now is to accelerate growth.

Jaitley said the Government is also seeking to put an end to the multitude of indirect taxes by introducing the landmark goods and services tax ( GST).

The Modi Government took office on May 26, 2014 after BJP stormed into power with an absolute majority in Lok Sabha, ending 10 years of the Manmohan Singh-led Congress coalition rule.