PM: Congress usurped subsidy of Rs570bn

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday hit out at the previous Congress-led government for abusing subsidy of Rs570bn meant for the poor.
“People used to loot the treasury in the name of subsidies. In the past, 57,000 crore used to get leaked due to rampant corruption in implementing subsidies,” Modi said at an election rally here ahead of Himachal Pradesh’s November 9 assembly polls.
“Now our policy has stopped the leak. The leaders in Congress cannot bear this, so they are attacking me.”
Criticising former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that Re1 ends up as 15 paise when it reaches villages, Modi said: “Rajiv was such a doctor who diagnosed the problem of corruption but did not do anything about it.”
Taking a dig at the Congress central leadership, Modi said the party has already left the battlefield and it was a one-sided contest.
“I will regret one thing about this poll. It isn’t fun because the Congress has accepted defeat,” he said.
Playing the development card by emphasising on promotion of tourism in the hill state, the prime minister said his government was focusing on laying roads in the state.
Donning a Himachali cap, Modi, on his third and last election tour of the state, said: “In the last 20 years, there has not been a single election where I have not been involved. But this is an unprecedented election. I know where the wind is blowing.
“A storm is raging here against the corrupt Congress.”
Modi said his government’s biggest tax reform – the Goods and Services Tax (GST) – has benefited the transport sector.
“This country has warmly welcomed GST as it has immensely benefited the transport sector. Truck movement between the states has gained pace.”
Talking tough against black money and holders of ‘benami’ or illegal properties, Modi said after demonetisation at least 300,000 companies came under the scanner.
“We did a sample survey of 5,000 companies and saw that they at least transacted Rs4,000 crore worth of black money. I can only imagine what will happen if we look at the transactions of all the companies,” Modi added.
l Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attacked the central government after prices of cooking gas was again hiked, and asked Modi to “vacate the ‘Sinhasan’ (throne)”.
“Expensive gas, expensive ration. Stop making hollow promises. Fix the rates and give employment or else vacate the post,” Gandhi tweeted.
Gandhi was referring to the price hike announced by state-run oil firms on Wednesday.
The price of the cooking gas cylinder went up by Rs4.50, while the non-subsidised rate was hiked by Rs93 per cylinder.