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    Modi in Rajya Sabha: 'Given full freedom...,' PM defends ED, CBI actions on Opposition

    Synopsis

    Addressing allegations of political bias, Modi said that the government does not interfere with these agencies, stating, "Maine karwahi karne k liye khuli chooth dekh rahi hai, sarkar kahi pe tang nahi, par apna kaam imandari se kare" (I have given them full freedom to act, the government does not interfere, but they must do their work with honesty).

    PM Modi on misuse of ED, CBI: Congress exposing AAP is fine, agency investigating Kejriwal is not?
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday pledged to intensify the crackdown on corruption and black money, stating that the government has granted "full freedom" to investigative agencies to take the strongest measures against corrupt individuals. In his response to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, He emphasised that no one will be exempt from this rigorous enforcement.

    "I want to state without hesitation and also tell the countrymen that I have given full freedom to the agencies to take the strongest action against the corrupt and corruption. The government will not interfere anywhere," the prime minister said.

    "Yes, they (probe agencies) should work honestly for honesty. No person embroiled in corruption will be able to escape the law. This is Modi's guarantee," the prime minister said.

    Referring to the opposition members' charge that the government is misusing the probe agencies, Modi cited statements made by opposition leaders like late Mulayam Singh Yadav who had accused the UPA government of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against them. He also said even the Supreme Court had termed the CBI as a "caged parrot".

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Congress for initially making serious allegations with evidence against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later forming an alliance with them for the Lok Sabha elections. Modi emphasised that combating corruption remains a mission for the NDA government and is not driven by electoral considerations.

    "Allegations have been made against the central investigative agencies. It has been said that the central government is misusing the investigative agencies.

    "The AAP commits liquor scam, the AAP commits corruption, the AAP commits scam in building classrooms for children, the AAP even commits water scam… The Congress complains against the AAP. The Congress drags the AAP to court and if action is taken then they abuse Modi," the prime minister said.

    Modi said the Congress had presented so many proofs of AAP's scams before the country in a press conference. The Congress should now answer whether those proofs were true or false, he said.

    Now the AAP and the Congress have become partners, he said, and dared the AAP to demand an answer from the Congress.

    Modi asserted that he had vowed in 2014, when the BJP came into power at the Centre, that the government will work for the welfare of the poor and also take actions against corruption and black money.

    "Action against corruption is a mission for us. It is not a matter of victory or defeat in elections for us," he added.


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