Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that his government is unsparing when it comes to punishing the corrupt and listed out the steps initiated by him to curb the menace.
Prime Minister Modi, who inaugurated the sixth Global Focal Point Conference on Asset Recovery in New Delhi, said comprehensive and deterrent laws have been enacted to keep a check on corruption.
"We have constituted a Special Investigation Team under the Supreme Court to look into the issue. Comprehensive and deterrent law has been enacted that provides for stringent penalties. The government is unsparing when it comes to punishing the corrupt," he said.
"Our mission is to build a prosperous India. To achieve this objective, it is essential to fight relentlessly against corruption. Corruption is a principle challenge. India is in a crucial phase of nation building. There's a need to fight relentlessly against corruption," he added.
Citing various steps taken by his government against black money, Modi invoked Kautilya who had suggested confiscating of illegitimate wealth of corrupt officials.
"Governments across the world work to transform the lives of the poor and the marginalized. Dastardly acts in Paris are a grim reminder that terrorists have shown ability in funding. Funding includes smuggling of narcotics, bank robbery, vehicle robbery, and state sponsored activity in failed states," he said.
"Auction of coal blocks and FM radio licences have eliminated the element of discretion in allocation of resources," he added.
The prime minister also congratulated the Central Bureau of Investigation officers, who received medals on the occasion for their distinguished services.
"The Government has taken several steps to make the bureaucracy more efficient, performance oriented and accountable. The government is committed to implementation of a uniform global standard on automatic exchange of information on a fully reciprocal basis," he added.
