Come what may, my war on graft will continue: Modi

Kullu/Palampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has established himself as India's undisputed champion in the war against corruption, stated categorically on Sunday that he will not be deterred by the nationwide protest programme planned by the Congress and other Opposition parties to mark the first anniversary of the Union Government's demonetization drive on November 8.

Addressing an election rally at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, he joked, "The Congress is planning to observe 'mourning' in the coming week. It has nothing to do except grieve in the coming days. I do not fear burning of my effigies. My fight against corruption will not stop."

"The Congress and corruption are inseparable; they are like a tree and its roots. All their leaders are out on bail after facing serious charges of corruption and they are speaking about putting a check on corruption," he added, saying, "Corruption is the only identity of the Congress party."

Modi pointed out that the Congress is now "fearing" that he will bring a law to check benami property and book all those who have brought assets in the name of others as the opposition party had failed to do so when in power. He said that the Congress is "angry" at demonetisation as it is still feeling its effect and cited it as the reason for the party's "mourning" by giving a public protest call.

The Prime Minister observed said that note ban had disturbed the sleep of Congresmen and their anger has not cooled, alleging they had big bags and garages full of notes which were banned due to his decision. `"Few people who faced the heat of demonetisation are still complaining and are planning to observe November 8 as 'black day'. The Congress cannot scare me by burning my effigies," he said at another poll rally in Kullu.

Modi alleged that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had refused to carry out note ban after a panel headed by Yashwantrao Chavan recommended it, alleging she kept her party's interests over that of the nation. "Had she done note ban when needed, I would not have had to carry out this big task. For the Congress, it is never 'dal se bada desh' (country bigger than party). For them only their party's interest comes first," he said.

Modi said that there were reports that around 3 lakh companies have shut down after demonetisation and a probe into financial dealings of 5,000 such firms has revealed frauds to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore. "Imagine what will be the amount of fraud committed by 3 lakh companies," he said, adding that some of these companies were such which dealt in black money worth crores of rupees but had only two chairs and a table in their offices.