We have accepted OROP in principle, says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation during the 69th Independence Day function at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Saturday (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: In his second Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the agriculture ministry (krishi mantralaya) as “kisan kalyan mantralaya (farmer welfare ministry)”, and gave a few assurances. He, of course, spoke about the “poison” and “frenzy” of “casteism and communalism” and took a dig at the Congress by asking the party to “look in the mirror first”.
As India celebrated Independence Day, the PM defended the charges of scams and corruption levelled against his ministers.
Even as controversies over Lalitgate and the Vyapam scam haunt his government, thumping the podium, wearing a printed orange turban, Mr Modi asserted: “Ek naye paise ka bhi bhrashtachar ka aarop nahi hai (There is no allegation of corruption of even a single paisa).”
The Prime Minister, being flayed by the Opposition for his “inability” to act against controversial, powerful Union minister and CMs — Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, respectively — however told the nation that efforts to eradicate corruption should start from the top.
“We have to start from the top. Corruption is like a termite, it spreads slowly, reaches everywhere but it can be beaten with timely injections,” he said, adding: “We have not shown our commitment to fight corruption by addressing press conferences. We are working on the ground. We have shown results.”
Responding to the charge that the government “failed” on the black money front, the Prime Minister said “some people love to spread pessimism” and informed that about Rs 6,500 crore of undeclared money has been disclosed during the compliance window provided by the government.
Hitting out at the Congress-led UPA, the Prime Minister said that some people like to remain in “nirasha (hopelessness)” and try to spread “nirasha”.
Though there was no One Rank One Pension in his “Team India” address, in his bid to pacify the seething ex-servicemen, the Prime Minister assured, “I am saying it under the tricolour from Red Fort, we have accepted OROP in principle. Some talks are still on.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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