Ensure no safe haven to those who betray India: PM to CBI, CVC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today exhorted the officials of the CBI and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to innovate and ensure nobody who betrayed and cheated the country got safe haven in the world.

Virtually addressing a conference jointly organised by the two anti-graft agencies at Kevadia in Gujarat, Modi said no matter how powerful a person might be, stern action should be taken against those who worked against the interests of the nation or its people.

Kushinagar airport inaugurated in up

• PM Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the international airport at Kushinagar (UP)
• Move expected to boost Buddhist tourist circuit connectivity (Lord Buddha attained ‘nirvana’ in Kushinagar)

Incidentally, the PM’s remarks came at a time when the Central Government has been engaged in legal proceedings to bring back alleged economic offenders, like Vijjay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who have taken refuge overseas.

“You have to remember that your partnership is with this ‘mitti’ (soil), with Maa Bharti (Mother India),” the PM said. He said due to the hard work of his government in the last six-seven years, a faith had been established among people that corruption could be stopped. “People have faith today that they will get benefits of government schemes without any give and take or without any middlemen,” he said.

“Corruption, big or small, takes away the rights of common people. It is a hindrance in the progress of the country and affects our collective energy,” he said, while noting that the previous government lacked the will to control corruption.

After independence, he said, the mindset of the governments was to keep everything under their control. Those governments kept maximum control with themselves and due to it the system witnessed many wrong practices, he said, adding: “Maximum control, be it at home, in family or in the country, causes maximum damage.”

“We started as a mission to simplify the life of people by reducing controls, we believe in minimum government and maximum governance,” he said, while asking the CBI and CVC to brainstorm on how to find ways to save people from cyber frauds.