Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cited former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's '15 paisa' remarks to accuse the Congress of doing nothing during its regime to check corruption.
Speaking at the 'Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas' (NRI meeting) in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, Modi referred to Rajiv Gandhi's remarks that ''of one rupee of the government money only 15 paisa reaches the beneficiary'' and said that despite having knowledge about the ''loot'', the party (Cong) did nothing to check it.
''The disease (corruption) was known but it was not treated and the loot continued,'' the prime minister said.
He said that during his four-and-half-year stint at power, his government had completely ''checked the loot of 85%'' through the use of technology.
Modi also said that the Centre had been able to remove around seven-crore ''fake beneficiaries'', who had been taking benefits of the government schemes, from the system.
''It (removal of fake beneficiaries) is a huge achievement... But it is only a little glimpse of the new India,'' he remarked.
Modi also said that the government had taken several steps to provide more facilities to the NRIs and added that the work on the chip based E-Passport was in process.
He also exhorted the NRIs to motivate their acquaintances to visit India to give a boost to tourism.
Hundreds of NRIs from different corners of the world are taking part in the 'Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas' function. They would also be visiting the Kumbh festival at Prayagraj.
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