New Delhi:
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Myanmar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday justified the demonetisation move and said his government is not afraid of taking “big” and “tough” decisions in the interest of the country.
The government could take such decisions because it considers the country above politics, PM Modi said.
Apart from the demonetisation move, he also talked about the surgical strikes against Pakistan in 2016 and the rollout of Goods & Services Tax. He termed them as the “big” and “tough” decisions.
While addressing the gathering Modi said, “In the national interest, we are not afraid of taking big and tough decisions because for us, the country is above politics. Whether it be the surgical strikes, demonetisation or GST, all decisions were taken without any fear or hesitation.”
The step of noteban was taken to curb black money, PM Modi said adding that it had helped identify lakhs of people who had crores of rupees in bank accounts but never paid income tax.
Registration of over two lakh companies had been cancelled in last three months as those had been found to be indulging in laundering of black money, the Prime Minister added.
In his 35-minute address, he said “To deal with corruption, we banned currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination. A handful of corrupt people were making 125 crore people pay for their misdeeds. This was not acceptable to us.”
“There used to be no clue as to from where black money was coming and where it was going,” he added.
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Other important PM Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora:
Now, the people of the country have begun believing that India can move forward. The shackles can be broken.
We are not merely reforming India but transforming India. We are not changing India, but we are building a new India.
India believes in sharing the benefits of its development with its neighbours and also help them in the times of need.
South Asian satellite’s benefits will be availed of by all the neighbouring countries which had joined it.
People facing problems anywhere in the world contact Sushmaji through tweets without any hesitation... I do not think there will be any foreign minister like Sushmaji anywhere in the world who actively helps the countrymen in trouble just on the basis of a tweet.
(With PTI inputs)
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