Note ban: Modi thanks people for their support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that demonetisation was a very tough decision for him to take but the people stood by him.

On the third anniversary of the BJP-led NDA government, Modi thanked the 1.25 crore people of the country for standing by him in every decision his government took.

"Demonetisation was a very tough decision. (Opposition) Political leaders tried to create anger and provoke the people. But with the people's blessings, my government withstood all the problems.

"Our support grew, despite tough decisions. People can see the change now," Modi, whose government completed three years today, said here at a public really here.

On the issue of black money, Modi said, "We had decided to take strong steps against black money in the very first meetingof the Union Cabinet. The black money seized from the corrupt will go back to the poor. I'll face problems but won't hesitate to do it as I had promised this to the people".

BJP chief Amit Shah said on Friday his party will notch up a bigger victory in the next Lok Sabha polls than the 2014 elections, asserting that India will emerge as a "great nation" in various fields under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shah said that India's self- confidence, pride and scale of ambition have grown manifold in three years and attacked opposition parties for their promotion of casteism, family rule and appeasement.

Drawing a contrast between the 10-year UPA rule and the current government, he said the former was marked by a scam almost every month while even the rivals of Modi dispensation have not been able to level a single charge of corruption against it.

In a swipe at the UPA, he said every minister was a Prime Minister in its government while nobody took the real Prime Minister seriously. The biggest asset of the BJP government is that it is decisive and has restored the authority of the prime minister's office (PMO), he added.