PM warns Oppn against restoring Article 370

To keep their grip on people, the political parties created a demon, saying that if Article 370 is removed, Jammu and Kashmir would burn and it would break away from the country. For the sake of power, they had built a wall of Article 370. With your blessings, I have demolished that wall and buried the debris of Article 370 deep in the ground - Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Udhampur: Openly throwing a challenge to the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, warned that people of India would not spare them if they even think of bringing back Article 370.

“To keep their grip on people, these parties created a demon, saying that if Article 370 is removed, Jammu and Kashmir would burn and it would break away from the country,” PM Modi said while addressing a poll rally in Udhampur.

“For the sake of power, they had built a wall of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. With your blessings, Modi has demolished that wall and buried the debris of Article 370 deep in the ground,” he added. Challenging the Opposition that speaks of restoring Article 370, PM Modi said that if they do it, then people will not “even look at them.”

In an interview to Hindi daily Hindustan, Modi underlined his commitment to taking strict action against the corrupt amid criticism by Opposition parties that probe agencies were used by his government to target their leaders. Steps against corruption are being taken even in states where the BJP is in power, he said, adding that the narrative that only political corruption is being targeted is being circulated by people who are under the sword of investigative agencies.

He said, “Of the corruption cases probed by the Enforcement Directorate, only three per cent have people associated with politics. The remaining 97 per cent cases are linked to officials and criminals. Those who see benefits in a corrupt system are the ones who are crying foul and presenting the wrong picture.”

Since his government came to power in 2014, eliminating corruption has been its priority, he said, citing steps like ending interviews for Group C and Group D jobs, launch of National Single Window System, efforts for making government services as faceless as possible and starting the DBT (direct benefit transfer) system to prevent the money of the poor from going into the pockets of middlemen.

“As a result, we have removed the names of more than 10 crore (100 million) fake beneficiaries who were not even born. By doing this, the government saved 22.75 lakh crore from going into the wrong hands. I am committed to taking strict action against the corrupt,” he said.

Before 2014, the ED attached assets worth only 25,000 crore, whereas in the last 10 years the corresponding seizure surged to over one lakh crore, he said. “I assure your readers that action against such people, who steal the money meant for the welfare of the people of this country, will not end,” the prime minister told the newspaper.

To a question that it is being said that there is not much enthusiasm among voters and no wave for the Lok Sabha polls starting from April 19, Modi said it is not the elections but the Opposition camp that is dull because of their certain defeat.

“Even the Opposition believes that the NDA government will return to power, which is why several opposition leaders are shying away from poll campaign. Many people have started blaming EVMs (electronic voting machines) even before the polls have begun,” he said.

He added that people have got the opportunity to compare the "BJP Model" and the "Congress Model" for the first time.