PM Modi's surgical strike against corruption likely to hit benami property holders soon

Panaji: After demonetising high value notes to curb blackmoney, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he has "more projects" in mind to rid the country of corruption and was ready to face the consequences as forces are "up against me" with their 70 years of loot being in trouble.

"This is not an end. I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free. .... Cooperate with me and help me for 50 days and I will give you the India you desired," Modi said after laying the foundation stone of Mopa greenfield airport and launching work on electronic city project in Goa.

"We will take action against 'benami' property; This is major step to eradicate corruption and black money ... If any money that was looted in India and has left Indian shores, it is our duty to find out about it," he said.

"I know that (some) forces are up against me, they may not let me live, they may ruin me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble, but I am prepared," Modi said in a speech which saw him getting emotional a few times.

He said the people voted against corruption in 2014. "I am doing what I was asked to do by the people of this country and it had become clear from the very first meeting of my Cabinet when I formed the SIT (on blackmoney). We never kept the people in dark."

Hitting out at previous governments, the Prime Minister said they "neglected this ...We took a key step to help honest citizen to defeat the menace of graft."

In a direct attack on the opposition UPA, Modi said "those who were involved in the coal scam, 2G scam and other scams, now have to stand in queues to exchange Rs 4000".

"This suffering is only for 50 days. Once there is cleanliness (swachhata), not even a mosquito can fly. .... This is a 70-year old disease and I have to remove it in 17 months. I will expose corruption going on since Independence; even if I have to employ one lakh youths for this, I will do it," he said.

Referring to the criticism of the demonetisation move by opposition parties, he said "they thought if they pull my hair, I will do nothing. But even if you burn me alive, I am not afraid."

Revealing the efforts behind the demonetisation move, the Prime Minister said it was "a secret operation I started 10 months back and had formed a small team.

"It was of course not the one like (Defence Minister Manohar) Parrikar had launched (surgical strike in PoK). We had to print new currency notes and take other steps."

Appealing to the people to bear with him for 50 days (till December 30), he said "if you find anything wrong with my intentions or my actions, hang me in public. I promise you I will give you the India which you desired. If someone faces problem, I also feel the pain. I understand their problem but this is only for 50 days and after 50 days we succeed in this cleanising. "

Observing that the entire population, barring a few lakh of corrupt people, were working to make this move sucessful, he said on the night of November eight when he had announced the demonetisation plan, "crores of people slept peacefully, but a few lakh (corrupt) were going to buy sleeping pills as they had lost their sleep."

"You'll be shocked to know that many MPs asked me not to make PAN mandatory for any purchase of jewellery," he said, adding "today those who never used to take care of their widowed mother, are depositing Rs 2.5 lakh in her account."

"I started this fight on the back of honest people and I have full faith in their power. Everyone is saying that they are facing problem but they are happy that it will benefit the country," he said, while greeting the bank employees and the youths who were chipping in to help people standing in queues outside banks.

Referring to recent rumours about shortage of salt in the country, Modi said "this is being done by those whose black money is being rendered useless."

Launching the greenfield airport at Mopa in Goa and the work on electronic city project, the Prime Minister lauded Parrikar for ushering in political stability in the state after a span of several years.

He said the stability had brought in development, benefiting the state and quoted reports that Goa had emerged as "Number 1 among the smaller states. This is due to the efforts of the people of Goa."

Modi said he was proud to launch these projects which was promised by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said the airport would lead to over 50 lakh people to come to Goa, which would not only benefit tourism but also generate employment and give a boost to the economy here.

The electronic manufacturing city "is not merely a project. I see that the foundations of a 21st century Goa, a digitally-trained, youth-driven and most-modern Goa ka being laid today. It will convert Goa into a power house of India's progress," he said.