It is important to point out here that Modi, prior to winning the elections had continuously criticised the UPA government for nurturing corrupt politicians and industrialists who have crores stashed away abroad as black money. He had promised to crack down upon the black money hoarders the moment he became PM.
However, the NDA government's response to the black money issue has been considered a bit of a disappointment. The new government has been widely criticised for going the UPA way by going soft on black money hoarders in the country. It was only after the Supreme Court hauled the government up for not revealing names of people who hold accounts in a Geneva bank that the government had to submit the names to the court. The government revealed 627 names to the court, who will be investigated by the SIT now.
The Mann Ki Baat edition came at the right time providing PM Modi an opportunity to clarify his stand on the whole issue. Accused of setting up a toothless strategy to deal with the black money issue, the PM sough the country's faith and promised that he will definitely get the black money back to India.
The PM, who calls himself the Pradhan Sevak of the country, said, "Please trust your Pradhav Sevak. Every single rupee that the poor of the country have lost to people who are stashing black money abroad, will be brought back."
PM Modi also came up with a round-about response to the Supreme Court's insistence that the government reveal the names of the account holders, right away. The court had questioned the delay in revealing the names. Modi said, "There might be minor disagreements over the process through which black money will be brought back... that is bound to happen in a democracy. But I can assure you that the government is on a right track in bring the black money back."
He also attempted to dispel the idea that just the NDA government was trying to protect the black money holders. The Supreme Court had asked the government in a earlier hearing on 20 October, ""Why are you trying to protect people having bank accounts in foreign countries. Why are you providing a protective umbrella for all these people."
"The previous government also knew how much money was there outside India..." he pointed out during his address.
He quickly, however, went back to assuring that no one will be spared and all the money will be retrieved.
"There is no dearth in efforts to bring the black money back. I will do as much as possible, keep the blessings coming," he said.
Prior to talking about the black money issue, Modi also hailed his Swachch Bharat campaign and declared that he was amazed by how it has influenced the ordinary citizens of the country. He quoted one Bharat, who has sent him a mail, as saying that people on trains are now refraining from littering the compartments.
The Prime Minister also pointed out how children have been influenced by the campaign. "I came to know from social media that children have showed great enthusiasm in keeping the country clean. They don't throw chocolate wrappers on the streets anymore."
"When you keep the country clean, you do the poor a great favour. Diseases attack the poor before they get to the rich. So if you keep the country clean and don't litter, the poor will not contract diseases and will remain healthy. They will also battle poverty effectively if they are healthy, they can work and don't have to spend on medicines," he said.
He also lauded Smriti Irani for the good work done by her. Though he didn't name Irani in his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the work done by her ministry and referred to them as a perfect example of progressive governance. Modi said that the ministry has taken positive steps towards making education accessible to all people, including the specially-abled children of the government.
He mentioned that the HRD ministry has made an inspired initiative to make the education system easily available to differently-abled children. "If differently-abled students want to pursue technical or vocation training under a central university, the government will give them a special scholarship."
He added, "The HRD ministry has also decided that every Kendraya Vidyalaya and Central University will receive a special grant of Rs 1 lakh each to make the institution differently-abled friendly. From separate washrooms to proper facilities in classrooms, these students will be given as many facilities possible."
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