No corrupt person should be spared: PM Modi at CBI event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has emerged as a brand for justice and given hope and strength to the common man.

Speaking at the diamond jubilee celebrations of the agency, PM Modi said, "CBI has given hope and strength to the common citizen. People hold protests to demand CBI inquiry as CBI has emerged as a brand for truth and justice."

The CBI was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India dated 1st April 1963.

In his address, the Prime Minister said that the central agency's scope has increased manifold but the main responsibility of the CBI is to make the country corruption free.

"India cannot move forward without professional and efficient Institutions like CBI. From bank frauds to wildlife-related frauds, the CBI's scope of work has increased manifold but the main responsibility of the CBI is to make the country corruption free," he said.

"Through their work and skills, CBI has instilled trust among the common citizens of the country", the Prime Minister said. He noted that even today when an unsolvable case comes, a common accord emerges asking for the case to be handed over to CBI. Giving examples, the Prime Minister mentioned that at times protests erupt in cities for a case to be handed over to CBI. Even at the Panchayat level when a matter arises, the Prime Minister said, a mutual voice amongst the citizens demands a CBI inquiry.

"CBI's name is on everyone's lips. It is like a brand for truth and justice", the Prime Minister remarked as he noted the extraordinary feat of winning the trust of the common populace. The Prime Minister congratulated everyone who has been associated with CBI in this journey of 60 years, a statement from his office said.

"Corruption is not an ordinary crime, it snatches the rights of the poor, it begets many other crimes, corruption is the biggest obstacle in the path of justice and democracy", he said. He said corruption in the government system hampers democracy and the first casualty are the dreams of the youth as in such circumstances a certain type of ecosystem flourishes killing talent. Corruption, the Prime Minister continued, promotes nepotism and a dynastic system which erodes the nation's strength, seriously hampering development.

He recalled bringing transparency in the processes of issuing government tenders and also highlighted the difference in 2G and 5G spectrum allocations. The Prime Minister emphasized that GeM (Government eMarketplace) Portal has been established to ensure transparency in making purchases in every department of the Central Government.

The Prime Minister said today's Internet banking and UPI stand in stark contrast to the earlier 'phone banking' malaise. The Prime Minister highlighted the efforts of recent years to bring the banking sector to an even keel. He mentioned the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act which has so far enabled the confiscation of 20 thousand crore worth of properties of fugitive offenders.

Giving the example of Direct Benefit transfer, the Prime Minister said that the government has so far transferred 27 lakh crores to the poor and also pointed out that based on the one rupee 15 paise theory, 16 lakh crores would have already disappeared. The Prime Minister remarked that beneficiaries are getting their full entitlement with the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile where more than 8 crore fake beneficiaries have been removed from the system. "Due to DBT, about 2.25 lakh crore rupees of the country have been saved from going into the wrong hands", the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister recalled the corruption in recruitments in the name of interviews. He said that is why interviews were abolished in Group C and Group D services at the center. Similarly, Urea related scams were tackled by neem-coating of urea. The Prime Minister also remarked on growing transparency in the defence deal and emphasis on aatmnirbharta in the defence sector.

The Prime Minister dwelled at length on the problems created by delays in the investigation such as delay in punishment of the culprit and harassment of the innocent. He stressed the need for speeding up the process, adopting best international practices and capacity building of the officers to clear the way of holding the corrupt accountable quickly.

The Prime Minister made it clear that "Today there is no dearth of political will to take action against corruption in the country." He asked officers to take action without hesitation against the corrupt, however powerful. He asked them not to be deterred by the history of the power of the corrupt and the ecosystem created by them to tarnish the investigative agencies. "These people will keep distracting you, but you have to focus on your work. No corrupt person should be spared. There should be no laxity in our efforts. This is the wish of the country, this is the wish of the countrymen. The country, law and constitution are with you", PM Modi emphasized.