Modi: Nobody thought Cong leaders would get convicted

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 18

“Four years ago, nobody thought Congress leaders would get convicted for the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 (following the assassination of Indira Gandhi). No one believed that people would get justice,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an event in Mumbai today.

Insisting that his was a government with a difference, Modi went on to say that the Rafale aircraft deal was done transparently. “For the first time, India’s biggest court had ... given a verdict that work has been done honestly. No one thought this would take place four years ago,” the PM said.

He further hit out at the Congress by dwelling on the AugustaWestland defence deal. “Nobody thought four years ago that Christian Michel, the main man in the helicopter scam, would be brought to India,” Modi said.

He went on to hit out at those accusing the government of corruption. “We have a tendency to believe all corruption allegations against the government. Whether it is malpractice or corruption charges, the psychology has remained the same,” Modi said. The PM also said the government was committed to eradicate corruption. “Corruption was taken for granted in India. ‘Chalta hai’ This is how things work in India,’ people used to say. Why should it be like this?” Modi asked rhetorically.

He further said in the past nothing used to happen to companies who did not repay loans. “They have always been given protection by some special people,” Modi said. The PM went on to say that the government was in the process of simplifying the goods and services tax (GST). “This government was trying to bring 99 per cent of things below the 18 per cent GST slab,” Modi said. He claimed that the GST regime has added another 55 lakh registered enterprises to existing 65 lakh.

Modi went on to say that India had improved technologically under his government. “Four years ago no one thought India would be able to launch a hundred satellite in one go. Now we are working towards Gaganyaan,” he said. The PM went on to say that his government had managed to provide gas connections to all households.