Slamming critics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said plans were afoot to attack the Union Budget and people were working harder than Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to criticise the budget even before it has been formulated.
Modi also said a powerful cartel was at work trying to persecute him, because of his Government’s decision to demonetise currency, which he said was one of the steps to eliminate poverty from India and transform the lives of the poor.
“Some parties are already ready with economists, some educated people and have started making graphs, that when the Government of India budget is released, the budget is not released yet, they do not know what will feature in the budget. But they are making graphs, so that when the budget is announced, we can attack in such a way that a message can go to Goa, Punjab, UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur,” the Prime Minister told an election rally in Panaji.
“They are already drafting this (criticism) on paper. We can understand reactions after the budget, we also understand criticism, but they are working harder on how to criticise the budget, than the hard work put in by the finance minister, who is still formulating the budget. This does not bode well for democracy,” Modi also said.
Modi also said, that the very fact that political opponents had started questioning the decision of the Election Commission of India, over finalisation of the poll schedule, it meant that those political parties were getting prepared for defeat.
“In this election, I read statement of a party. They were saying that we are surprised, why Punjab and Goa polls have been clubbed together. Why are they both on the February 4 and how did both (states) feature in the first round. The PMO has pressurised the Election Commission, therefore this has happened. That means, they are readying for defeat. Excuses are being found. If they lose they will say, Election Commission has recommended such dates, that’s why we lost,” Modi pointed out.
The Prime Minister also said that his campaign against corruption had affected a lot of powerful people, who were now persecuting him.
“All over the country, I have started a campaign against corruption. A common man is not involved in corruption. They are big powerful people. I am being persecuted because they are in trouble because of me. I am taking out what they have accumulated over 70 years,” Modi said.
Modi also said that more firm steps would be initiated to establish an India without poverty.
“This Government is for the poor. To make an India without poverty, one step after another is being taken to transform the lives of the poor. Therefore our steps will be tough, but it will be for the betterment of the country, it will not be for political gain,” he said.