Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Opposition for spreading lies against his government and BJP, and vowed to bring back every penny from the absconders, while speaking at 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' programme here.
"Congress' lies are seasonal. When there were elections in Delhi, they came up with intolerance. When there were elections in Bihar, their topic was that Modi will take back all forms of reservations. Then an 'Award Wapsi' gang came. Whenever any incident happens, this gang comes up," he said.
"I asked my people what was received in the office. I came to know that nothing came, and not even the money given with the awards. After every election, this gang goes home," said Prime Minister Modi.
In an apparent reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said: "The one who is lying, the first condition is that his memory power should be sharp. But one day he said some figure, the next day some other figure. The factory of his lies hands him another lie. But due to poor memory power, he is caught."
"We must be well aware of fake promises that several political parties are making these days. They know they would not win. Therefore, I urge people to minutely examine everything being said by some parties," he said.
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Talking about the meaning of 'Chowkidar,' Prime Minister Modi said: "Chowkidar is a spirit. It is a feeling. Gandhi ji said that we have to use our resources as a trustee. His words and ideologies guide us even today. Chowkidar is a representation of his ideologies and principles."
Highlighting the success of direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme using Aadhar card, Prime Minister Modi said: "In the BJP ruled states, we found 8 crore fake names who were never born but grown older in the government office. Around Rs 1 lakh crore used to be given to these fake people. With DBT scheme, the money is saved."
Talking about 'Mission Shakti' test at a time when elections are due, Prime Minister Modi said: "Mission Shakti has nothing to do with elections. The scientists of our country have achieved that power which has with only three countries in the world before us. It is due to our scientists that India has entered the elite club of space power."
In a strong message to those who are absconding after looting the country, the Prime Minister said that he would ensure that they return every penny to the country. "Those who have robbed the country will have to return every single penny. Since 2014, I have been doing all things to ensure absconders face the law of the land," he said.
Modi further said, "They are being sent to jails. Some are out on bail and asking for some dates. They are absconding due to fear."
"Because of our laws, they are returning the money. They did corruption of Rs 9,000 crore and now Rs 14,000 is in the government's custody. Their properties--wherever in the world--will be seized," he added.
The Prime Minister said: "Some people say in foreign courts that the condition in India's prisons is not good. I cannot give a good prison to the prisoners better than where the Britishers had kept Gandhi ji."
"Our principle has been to reward honesty. From the very first day, we ensured that honest taxpayers do not face any difficulty. I promise to the countrymen that those involved in scams will be punished," he said.
Highlighting the success of his government, Prime Minister Modi said that India is now the sixth largest economy in the world.
"We have created an atmosphere in the country where we have to match the world. We have spent a lot of time doing India-Pakistan. Pakistan will die of its own death. Leave them. We have to move forward. We have to compete with prosperous nations," he said.
Talking about India's war against terrorism, Prime Minister Modi said if Pakistan accepts India's airstrike in Balakot, it will put Islamabad in a dilemma as this admission will be the confirmation of the presence of terrorist camps across the border.
"Pakistan is in big trouble. If they say something happened in Balakot, it would mean that they accept that terrorist camps were being operated from there. They keep telling the world that there is nothing there. We attacked at such a place that they cannot hide," he said.
"We have been suffering from terrorism for the past 40 years. They came and carried out killings in Mumbai and Uri. We know who is responsible for this. I thought that how long all this will go? Then, I decided--Yeh Jahan Se Control Hota Hai, Khel Wahin Khela Jaayega," he said in response to a question about air strike at terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on February 26.
The Prime Minister said: "After one and a half months, they did not allow anyone to go there. Some people tell us they are reconstructing that area. They (Pakistan) are saying that there is a school functioning from there so that they can tell the world that terrorist camps never existed there."
"But the attack was targeted at such a place which proves that terrorist camps used to operate from there. Pakistan does not have a problem with how many were killed but with the stamp which said that terrorist camps used to be there," he said.
Praising Indian armed forces, Prime Minister Modi said: "I have not done Balakot strikes but or jawans did this. We salute them. I was able to take that decision because I have complete trust in our armed forces. I have trust in their ability and discipline and I know what they can achieve.
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