Govt unsparing in punishing the corrupt: Modi

New Delhi, Nov 18: Asserting that his government is unsparing in punishing the corrupt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said 45 senior officers have either been removed or faced pension cuts for "unsatisfactory performance and delivery in public service". He said the focus of his government was on providing system-based and policy-driven governance.

"A governance structure that is sensitive, transparent and accountable," he said. Speaking at the Sixth Global Focal Point Conference on Asset Recovery being hosted by the CBI, the Prime Minister said corruption is one of the "principle challenges" for government's across the world in transforming the lives of poor and maginalised. "We in India are currently in a crucial phase of nation building.

Our mission is to build a prosperous India. An India where our farmers are capable, our workers satisfied, our women empowered and our youth self-reliant.

"This is not an impossible mission. However, to achieve this objective, it is essential to fight relentlessly against corruption. India stands committed in its fight against corruption," he said.

Highlighting the achievements of his government in tackling the menace of corruption in bureaucracy, he said several steps have been taken to make the bureaucracy more efficient, performance-oriented and accountable. "The Government is committed to ensuring probity among public servants and to protect them from frivolous allegations.

"Equally, the Government is unsparing when it comes to punishing the corrupt. We have so far removed and ensured pension cuts of 45 senior officers of various services for unsatisfactory performance and delivery in public service," he said.

The Prime Minister said after assuming the office, his government had taken several steps to check corruption and the menace of black money in a short span of time which included setting of a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of the Supreme Court to look into the blackmoney issue.

The Supreme Court had directed the Centre to form an SIT and after Modi government came to power in May last year, it announced its constitution as the deadline was nearing.

The Prime Minister said India has entered into agreements with many countries for exchanging real time information on black money besides signing an Inter Government Agreement with the US to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

Besides this, a comprehensive and deterrent law, the Black Money Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets and Imposition of Tax Act, has been enacted which provides for stringent penalties and prosecution.

"We have also introduced a provision under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for restitution of assets. This will enable millions of poor investors who have lost money in ponzi schemes to recover a part of their hard earned money," he added.

PTI