Corruption is the biggest obstacle in the way of development. And because he is taking action against the corrupt, the political parties are trying to unite against him, Narendra Modi claimed in a public meeting in Kochi yesterday.
Opposition’s counter-question
The opposition raised a counter question, does the Prime Minister not see the allegations of corruption against the leaders of his party? Why is CBI-ED not taking any action despite corruption allegations against the BJP government in Karnataka?
Today in Congress Hall, tomorrow in Trinamool, the next day in Aam Aadmi Party Hall, the next day in Rashtriya Janata Dal – every day CBI or ED raids and searches are going on to investigate corruption allegations against leaders of some opposition political party. So, all the opposition parties are in one voice accusing the Modi government of using the CBI-ED for political purposes. Many are also talking about the need for the opposition to unite. On Wednesday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao went to Bihar and met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Yesterday, Modi said, “I said from Red Fort on August 15 that the time has come for the final fight against corruption. But you have seen that new polarization is taking place with the action against corruption. Some parties have come forward openly to save the corrupt. They are trying to get organized.”
After listening to Modi, Trinamool leader Sukhendushekhar Roy said, “Does the Prime Minister not see the corruption of his party? His government ministers are opening companies and getting rich. He did not allow Rafael, and Pegasus to be discussed in Parliament. PM does not want to disclose any information from the CARES fund.” According to the Aam Aadmi Party, Karnataka contractors have written to the Prime Minister saying that they have to pay 40% of the project money as bribes to ministers and officers. There is no action. Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, “All non-BJP parties must unite to stop this corruption of BJP. Civil society must also join in.”
Commencement of Pitri Paksha
On the other hand, Pitri Paksha is starting on September 10. In the past, the BJP leadership has been seen avoiding any auspicious work or important decisions during this time. Hence the speculation in Delhi politics that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to finalize the cabinet expansion before the Pitri Paksha begins.
Yesterday, the central leadership of the BJP sat in a meeting with a group of general secretaries of the party. According to sources, cabinet expansion and the situation in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh were discussed in detail. The Cabinet was last expanded in July last year. Since then, central politics has witnessed a lot of changes. Nitish Kumar’s party JDU has left the NDA camp, and RCP Singh, who is in charge of the steel ministry, has resigned from the party. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has been forced to resign due to the non-extension of his term in Rajya Sabha. Modi will have to hand over the responsibility of those two ministries to someone new.