{"id":33060,"date":"2017-11-30T14:38:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T09:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=33060"},"modified":"2017-11-30T14:39:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-30T09:09:58","slug":"pm-modi-says-he-is-ready-to-pay-the-political-cost-for-the-path-he-has-chosen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/news-story\/pm-modi-says-he-is-ready-to-pay-the-political-cost-for-the-path-he-has-chosen\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Modi says he is ready to pay the political cost for the path he has chosen"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Stoutly defending his government\u2019s steps that have sparked off debates and criticism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi <\/a>said he was prepared to be a martyr for the cause of taking India ahead.<\/p>\n

Much like he declared a year ago after demonetisation<\/a> \u2013 \u2018you can give me any punishment you want if things do not improve after 50 days (after demonetisation),\u2019 \u2013 on Thursday he said:\u00a0 \u201cI am well aware that the path I have chosen to take, the place where I have decided to take this country to, will come with a heavy political cost, but I am ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing the inaugural session of the 15th edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on Thursday, Modi defended demonetisation and GST, both of which have been criticised as hasty steps taken without adequate consultation or preparation, leading to several glitches in implementation and frequent, numerous changes in rules.<\/p>\n

He also hailed Aadhaar and justified the government\u2019s push for it, even as the matter is before the Supreme Court where it is to be decided by a Constitution bench.<\/p>\n

Modi said demonetisation unearthed on black economy was a treasure trove that would help India in its war against corruption. Speaking about the government\u2019s decision to scrap high-value banknotes, Modi said the note ban had brought large parts of the underground economy into the formal system.<\/p>\n

He claimed there has been a shift in the attitude of people after November 8, 2016. \u201cPeople voted us to create a new India, to remove the corruption. Post-demonetisation, there has been a shift in the attitude of people. Those with black money have a fear of being caught. That which was earlier a part of the parallel economy is now a part of formal economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong with money, evidence of black money has also crept into the banking system. On one side, the poor struggled to open one bank account and on the other side, there were companies which opened thousands of bank accounts,\u201d Modi added.\u201cDemonetisation brought in proof of black money\u2026finished parallel economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On GST, Modi said it fixed the weaknesses within the system and ushered in an era of transparency.<\/p>\n

He also described Aadhaar as an \u201cirreversible change\u201d, referring to the HT Leadership Summit\u2019s theme, \u2018The Irreversible Rise of India\u2019.<\/p>\n

He also said the Centre’s next big move against corruption and black money would be to use Aadhaar to clamp down on benami properties and transactions. \u201cBy linking Aadhaar to mobile and Jan Dhan, we have created such a system that could not have been imagined few years back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn last three years, with the help of Aadhaar, crores of fake names have been removed from the system. Now it is going to be a big weapon against benami properties. Aadhaar is such a power through which this government want to ensure rights of poor. It is also playing a big role in providing subsidised ration, scholarships, medicines, pensions and other government subsidies,\u201d Modi said.<\/p>\n

Modi began by talking of his visit to the summit two years ago. \u201cWithin two years, we are today talking about \u2018The Irreversible Rise of India\u2019. It is reflective of the development taking place in the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n