Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a mammoth Parivartan Rally here at the Nirala Nagar Railway Ground on Monday, made a fervent appeal to media and intellectuals help him in his mission to make India corruption-free. He said that during his visit to various parts of Uttar Pradesh, he found that there was not only the wave of change but it appeared to be a storm of change. People of Uttar Pradesh had now started putting in their all out efforts to bring change in the state government in the ensuing assembly elections. He was surprised that while the agenda of his government was to eliminate corruption and black money from the country, opposition parties were busy stalling the proceedings in parliament. Even after the interference of the President of India, they continued to shout slogans and disrupt the proceedings of parliament. They were in fact trying to escape from being involved in open discussion. Such type of events were not even witnessed in the House of Municipality Corporations. It was for the first time that leaders of opposition parties were shouting slogans in parliament to support the dishonest people to serve their own interest. He said the country was now divided into two parts. On one hand, a handful people were interested to save their black money while on the other, honest persons were ready to bear everthing to eliminate it. He said that the black money had in fact deprived the middle class people of their rights.
Modi asked why there was a storm for change in Uttar Pradesh. It was so as people of Uttar Pradesh were fed up of vandalism. Even leaders of ruling party were taking the side of vandals. Vandalism in Uttar Pradesh can only be removed with the change of government in the State. He said in the forthcoming assembly elections, these disgruntled element would try to do everything to repeat the rule of their party but there would surely be a change in government, he claimed. He thanked the Election Commission for calling an all-party meeting during the parliamentary session where leaders of all the political parties were in favour of a progressive country. President of India had also advocated about the conduct of lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections simultaneously to reduce the burden of exchequer on government and avoid disruption in developmental works being carried out in urban and rural areas. These all points needed to be a part of open discussion in parliament which could not be possible due to disruption in its proceedings. He again urged the Election Commission to mount pressure for an open discussion on all these points in parliament and his government was committed to enforce the decision forthwith.
Modi said his government was committed to win the battle against corruption and black money. He called upon all to work for the bright future of the country. He said after the announcement of ban on old currency on November 8, people had started to locate ways to save their black money. They started approaching the poor people for hiding their black money to some extent. With the ban on high denomination currency notes, the power of small denomination currency notes had increased, he added.
Modi said the provisions made by the Congress Party about 35 years ago about the submission of account by the political parties were still in tact. His government did not make any amendment in it. He also ridiculed the formula of the then Treasurer of Congress Party Sitaram Kesri who used to say `Na Khata Na Bahi, Jo Kesri Kahe Wahi Sahi’. Thinking about self’s benefit led the country to a disaster, he added.
Modi said after 70 years of Independence, several parties were voted to power in Uttar Pradesh and the state had given many prime ministers but there were around 1600 villages left unattended for the power supply. He had promised to ensure supply of power in these villages within 1000 days of his regime and so far, about 70 villages were left for it. Of these, as the names of 50 villages were on paper only, about 20 villages required the installation of power supply equipment which would be completed soon subject to the coordination by the state government. Modi also enumerated the facilities of lPG gas connection provided to over 35 lakh poor people all over the country, including Uttar Pradesh. He also solved the problems of cane farmers who started crushing their crop after getting payment of arrears. For the misuse of fertiliser in preparing the synthetic milk, he said after the neem coating, the practice was stopped.
Modi said with the help of latest technology, search was on to locate people hiding their black money either in bank or with them. He was committed to win the battle launched for the country’s poor people. After 50 days of currency ban, people would feel comfortable to great extent, he assured. On this occasion, Modi also announced an attractive scheme for the poor to promote cashless transactions. He said from December 25 (Christmas Day) onwards, people preferring payments through online, e-vallet, digital currency, debit/credit cards etc. would be awarded. Everyday, 15000 persons, selected through a draw, would get Rs.1000 credited to their account. The scheme would remain in force for 100 days. On December 30 and on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14) there would be a mega draw when cash prizes of crores of rupees would be distributed. Similar scheme was also going to be launched for the shopkeepers selling goods for over Rs.50 and below Rs.3000 with an annual turnover up to Rs.2 crore.