Amid Vijay Mallya controversy, PM Modi says business should be done within rules and laws

Without making any specific reference to Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government has sent out a clear message over the last four years that business should be done within the purview of rules and laws.

"In the last four years, our government has been able to deliver a clear message that the business should be done within the purview of the rules and laws," Modi  said while addressing an event organised by the Bohra Muslim community to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussain -- the grandson of Prophet Mohammad-- at a mosque in Indore.

The 'Ashara Mubaraka' programme was held at the Saifee Mosque where Modi shared dais with the Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The Bohra community is a sect within Shia Islam known for trading and business acumen.

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"Honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like GST and Bankruptcy law," Modi added.

His comment came against the backdrop of alleged scams and loan-default cases involving businessmen Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya.
      
The prime minister highlighted his government's initiatives such as 'Make-in-India' programme and 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', and said honest businessmen are being encouraged through steps like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Bankruptcy law. 

Modi said the government was eyeing double-digit growth for the country and expressed confidence that it would be achieved "despite all the challenges".

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"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said.
        
Talking about the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', the PM said he looked forward to see the country being declared 'open-defecation free'.

"When I became the prime minister four years back, there were toilets in 40% households. We can think of difficulties faced by our mothers and sisters. Now, the households having toilets have reached 90 per cent within a short span of time," he said.

Highlighting the 'Ayushman Bharat Scheme', Modi said the national health protection scheme has emerged like a panacea for nearly 50 crore people of poor sections of the country, which is almost equal to the entire population of Europe.

(With PTI inputs)