Lashing out at the opposition INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the attacks on him will not stop the fight against corruption and action will be taken against those involved in graft irrespective of their status.
“When Modi is fighting the battle against corruption with full strength, these people have formed the INDI alliance. They think they will intimidate Modi, but for me, my Bharat is my family and I am taking steps to protect it from the corrupt,” the prime minister said addressing his first rally in Uttar Pradesh after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.
Modi’s counter-offensive came as the stalwarts of the INDIA bloc held a rally at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi in support of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and JMM leader Hemant Soren, arrested on graft charges, and accused the prime minister of adopting dictatorial policies. The prime minister said some people are rattled because he is taking action against corruption.
“I am fighting a big battle to save my country from the corrupt. That is why they are behind bars today and not getting bail even from the Supreme Court,” Modi said. “The election is a fight between two camps. On one side you have the NDA committed to eradicating corruption, on the other side is the INDI Alliance focused on protecting corrupt leaders. You have to decide whether corruption should be removed or not,” he said at the rally in Meerut.
“Modi’s mantra is bhrastachar hatao (remove corruption); they (Opposition leaders) say bhrashtachari bachao (save the corrupt). On one side is the NDA and on the other a khema (camp) to save the corrupt. You have to decide. Should the corrupt be saved? Should corruption be removed or not?” he said.
Targeting the Opposition over an issue that he said involved India’s territorial integrity and security, Modi attacked the Congress for having ceded the island of Katchatheevu in 1974 – India gave up its claim to this island in the Palk Strait during the rule of Indira Gandhi as part of a maritime agreement with Sri Lanka.
He linked it to the plight of fishermen from Tamil Nadu and other southern states whose boats get impounded by Sri Lanka. He wondered whether such political parties could be trusted with national security.
