Cooperative competitive federalism need of the hour: PM in I-Day speech

Slamming efforts to “glorify those who have looted the country”, PM Modi on Monday sought the “blessings” of 130 crore citizens in his efforts to tackle graft.

- Akhilesh Singh

New Delhi: “The corrupt are eating away the country like termites. I have to intensify the fight, take it to a decisive point,” the PM said in his address on the occasion of the 76th Independence Day. “This mindset is not going to end unless there is a feeling of ‘nafrat’ (hatred) for corruption and the corrupt and people look down upon them socially,” he added.

The appeal for popular support for the fight against corruption came amid allegations of vendetta against political opponents and marked a clear signal that protests couldn’t be a deterrent for investigating agencies. In fact, Modi framed the issue as ‘corrupt and influential versus the honest and poor’ duel. Similarly, he cast his attack on nepotism as a “privilege versus merit” fight.

The PM cited the recent successes in sports arena as evidence. He said India’s performance improved after steps to check favouritism.

“It is not that our sons and daughters, the youth of India, were not achieving anything in the world of sports. But sadly they had been pushed out due to nepotism.”