Burning effigies will not deter me from fighting against corruption: PM Modi

Kullu/Palampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that burning effigies will not deter him from carrying forward the fight against corruption and black money.

At poll rallies in Himachal Pradesh, he accused former prime minister Indira Gandhi of not going for a note ban when needed.

PM Modi said that Indira refused to carry out note ban after a panel headed by Yashwantrao Chavan recommended it, alleging she kept her party's interests over that of the nation.

"Had she done note ban when needed, I would not have had to carry out this big task. For the Congress, it is never 'dal se bada desh' (country bigger than party). For them only their party's interest comes first," he said.

PM Modi said that over three lakh companies have shut down after demonetisation and a probe into 5,000 such firms has found a fraud of Rs 4,000 crore while investigation against others was on.

He added that the Congress was "angry" at demonetisation as it is still feeling its effect and cited it as the reason for the party's "mourning" by giving a public protest call.

`"Few people who faced the heat of demonetisation are still complaining and are planning to observe November 8 as 'black day'. The Congress cannot scare me by burning my effigies," he said a well-attended poll rally in Kullu. The Congress is planning to observe 'mourning' in the coming week. It has nothing to do except grieve in the coming days. I do not fear burning of my effigies. My fight against corruption will not stop," he also said at another rally in Palampur.

"The Congress and corruption are inseparable, they are like a tree and its roots. All their leaders are out on bail after facing serious charges of corruption and they are speaking about putting a check on corruption," he said, adding, "Corruption is the only identity of the Congress party."

PM Modi further claimed that the Congress was now "fearing" that he will bring a law to check benami property and book all those who have brought assets in the name of others as the opposition party had failed to do so when in power.

Pledging his party's support for the overall development of Himachal Pradesh, he said the hill state needs to be freed of five mafias - 'Mining Mafia', 'Forest Mafia', 'Drug Mafia', 'Tender Mafia' and 'Transfer Mafia'. 

Later the PM tweeted:

My campaigns across Himachal convince me that Congress will be defeated in the polls. People can’t tolerate its corruption & misgovernance. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 5, 2017

आज ऊना, पालमपुर और कुल्लू में सभाएँ संबोधित की।विशाल संख्या में आकर लोगों ने भाजपा को अपना आशीर्वाद दिया। pic.twitter.com/Dmqs44axwS — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 5, 2017

The Opposition parties, including the Congress, have said they would observe November 8 as 'black day' across the country by organising protests and effigy burning, besides candlelight marches.

(With PTI inputs)