In veiled attack on Lalu, Modi says, no one guilty of corruption will be spared

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a veiled attack on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad over a recent court verdict convicting him in the multi-crore fodder scam case, saying no one guilty of corruption will be "spared".

Addressing NCC cadets here, he reiterated his government's commitment towards fighting corruption and black money, saying "the rich and the powerful" were being brought to book.

"Earlier, people believed that nothing happens to the rich and powerful. But, things are different today. People who served as chief ministers are in jail for corruption," he said, in a veiled reference to the special CBI court verdict against Lalu as well as former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra.

The court had convicted Lalu and Mishra in one of the cases of the Rs 950-crore fodder scam last week, awarding the duo five-year imprisonment for involvement in the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.67 crore from the Chaibasa Treasury in 1992-1993.

The prime minister said that his government's fight against corruption and black money will not stop.

"The youth of India refuse to accept corruption. The fight against corruption and black money will not stop. This is a fight for the future of India's youth," Modi said.

On Aadhaar

Modi said Aadhaar enrollment has added "great strength" to India's development by curbing leakages and helping government money reach its target beneficiaries.

"What would earlier get into wrong hands is now going to the intended beneficiaries," he said.

Lalu has been attacking Modi and the BJP since JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dumped a grand alliance with the RJD last year over accusations of corruption against Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav.

Lalu put the blame of his conviction in the fodder scam cases on "political vendetta" by the BJP and Bihar chief minister.