PM praises Enforcement Directorate ‘crackdown on corruption’, slams Opposition
NEW DELHI, MAR 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday for its “stringent and unwavering” action against corruption, while also taking a dig at opposition parties, saying that they are worried about the probe agency’s remarkable actions.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024, PM Modi emphasised the “zero tolerance towards corruption” as a key aspect of his government, affirming that the probe agency is “completely free” to act against corruption.
“Zero tolerance towards corruption is a key aspect of our governance,” the Prime Minister asserted. “To act against corruption, every agency is totally free.”
He mentioned that the probe agency wasn’t allowed to work before 2014, citing a smaller number of cases and fewer seizures during the then Congress-led UPA government.
“Let’s take the Enforcement Directorate. Until 2014, under PMLA, 1,800 cases were registered. In the last 10 years, 4,700 cases have been registered. Until 2014, only assets worth Rs 5,000 crore were attached, but in 10 years, it has increased to assets worth over one lakh crore,” he said, adding that prosecution complaints have also increased 10 times.
“The ED has arrested several individuals involved in terror financing, cybercrime, and narcotics, and has busted large-scale crimes and attached wealth totalling over Rs 1000 crore,” he noted.
When these kinds of “exemplary work happen,” PM Modi said, “it is natural to cause problems for some people.”
Taking a swipe at the opposition parties, he said, “And for the same reason, they are engaged in abusing Modi day and night. But the nation clearly tells them, ‘so sorry’.”
Further attacking the opposition, he said, “In this election time, the opposition is weaving dreams by calculating on paper, while Modi has gone beyond dreams to guarantees.”
-PTI
