Demonetisation cure to 70-year-old corruption disease: Top 10 PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' quotes

He said, 'The corrupt are incorrigible and still looking for unfair means to stock black money by exploiting the poor'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked citizens and banks across the nation for accepting demonetisationand braving the following inconsequences, while accusing the opposition in a veiled attack, of misleading the nation over the scheme.
 

The prime minister, in the 26th edition of his Mann ki Baat address, also spoke on the burning issues of Kashmir unrest and hailed the valour of the Indian Armed Forces.
 

Here are the top 10 quotes from his address:
 

1. I understand your problems but for a disease which has infected our country for 70 years, treatment can't be simple and as I had said, it will take about 50 days for the situation to normalise.
 

2. The corrupt are incorrigible and are still looking for unfair means to stock black money. But what is saddening is that they are doing so by exploiting the poor.
 

3. Common man will be trouble free if they are made aware of the digital financial transaction options which the youth of the nation can perform quickly. I know cashless economy is diff; Why not move towards a less-cash society?; need your physical support in this.
 

4. Despite demonetisation, the sowing of crops have soared and I want to thank our hardworking farmers for this. I took this decision for the country's poor, farmer, labour, deprived and for those who are suffering.
 

5. There has been an increase of 300% in the use of Rupay Card, after November 8, when poor people started using it. I invite small traders to adopt cashless economy as it will bring about a huge transformation in the country. Be a soldier of change and bring it on.

6. Village heads from Kashmir visited me earlier to discuss the issue of development in their respective villages, but I conveyed them to turn their focus on the schools being burnt in the Valley and save the bright future of our children.
 

7. Every jawan was touched by the unique and novel way the entire nation dedicated this Diwali to the Indian Armed Forces.
 

8. I want to hail our Banking system for their tireless service of the people in the present situation.
 

9. I received overwhelming requests from across the nation to explain my decision behind scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes It is a matter of great happiness and pride for me that the nation has welcomed demonetisation
 

10. Amitabh Bachchan is an ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He wrote to me, "Swachh tan, swachh mann, Swachh Bharat, mera parichay," a line from a poetry of his father.
 

The prime minister had dedicated his last ' Mann ki Baat' address to the jawans amid the escalating tension between India and Pakistan on the border. I said youth are the agents of change and appealed to them to carry forward the demonetisation scheme with zeal and spread the message of embracing digital banking.
 

"Our jawans have been sacrificing their lives in the last few months. We should celebrate this Diwali in their name," he said during the 25th edition of the popular radio programme.
 

However, the Opposition has been resolute on its stand that the poor and rural population is not tech savvy, which is why digital banking is not a viable option for them, adding that those living in regions mostly comprising villages do not even have bank accounts.

With inputs from ANI news agency