Modi Hints At Crackdown On Benami Properties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hinted at a crackdown on 'benami' properties, and said the Congress is worried as such assets of its own leaders will not be spared from government action.

Launching an attack on the opposition party at an election rally in Sundernagar, Himachal Pradesh, Modi said the Congress' campaign against demonetisation was driven by its attempts to mislead the people and create an atmosphere against him before he can raise a "storm" over benami assets.

Modi heaped scorn over Congress’ decision to observe the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8 as a “black day”, saying it actually was "black money day" for the opposition. While addressing rallies in the poll-bound state, Modi said the Congress would burn his effigies because his sin was fighting corruption.

The opposition party has decided to observe November 8 as a “black day” to protest demonetisation. Modi said by lighting some candles and instigating some people, they would not be able to stop him.

The prime minister said he will not be cowed down by these tactics as he was a disciple of Sardar Patel.

A 'benami' property is one where the person who pays for it buys it in the name of some other person. There would be many Congress leaders, the prime minister claimed, who would have purchased assets like cars and houses in the names of their drivers and cooks.

"I am going to create a situation that they would not be able to reclaim it. This is people's money. This has been robbed of the masses and would be used for their welfare," he said. Modi added that people had given him power in 2014 to fight corruption and he would continue to do so.

Referring to alleged scams that happened under the United Progressive Alliance government, he questioned the Congress' "audacity" to observe ‘black day’ on November 8. On the issue of honesty, Indians would not trust the Congress even after 100 years, such are its "sins", he claimed.

Earlier at a rally in Kangra, he asserted that people had voted him to power in 2014 not to enjoy himself but to fight corruption and change the country's fate. The prime minister said he was resolutely fighting graft which had flourished under the patronage of previous governments.

He added that the poor and the middle class were back to work after demonetisation but the dishonest people were angry with him and wanted to seek revenge as he forced them to deposit their bagfuls of cash with banks.

Modi also likened the Congress to termites, and exhorted the people to finish it off by handing over three-fourth majority to the BJP in the November 9 Assembly election.