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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi spoke about the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet held in Kolkata through video message.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed notables to the city of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Kolkata and stated that this is the first-ever G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meet taking place physically. Referring to the writings of Tagore, the Prime Minister cautioned against greed as it prevents us from realizing the truth. He also touched upon the ancient Indian Upanishads that strive for ‘Ma Gridha’, which translates to ‘let there be no greed’.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the maximum impact of corruption is borne by the poor and the banished. He further added that it affects resource utilization, distorts markets, impacts service delivery and ultimately diminishes people’s quality of life. Referring to Kautilya in the Arthashastra, the Prime Minister said that it is the government’s duty to enhance the State’s resources to maximize the welfare of its people. He emphasized the need to fight corruption to achieve this goal and said that it is the sacred duty of the government towards its people. 

“India has a strict policy of Zero Tolerance against corruption”, the Prime Minister remarked as he accentuated that India is leveraging technology and e-governance to create a transparent and accountable ecosystem. He mentioned that leakages and gaps in welfare schemes and government projects are being plugged in. As a result, the Prime Minister said, hundreds of million people in India have received direct benefit transfers into their bank accounts amounting to more than 360 billion dollars and helping save over 33 billion dollars. The Prime Minister informed that the government has simplified various procedures for businesses and gave the example of automation and digitization of government services that have eliminated rent-seeking opportunities. “Our Government e-Marketplace, or GEM portal, has brought greater transparency in government procurement”, he added. Speaking about the enactment of the Economic Offenders Act in 2018, the Prime Minister said that the government is aggressively pursuing economic offenders and informed about the recovery of assets worth over 1.8 billion dollars from economic offenders and fugitives. He also mentioned the Prevention of Money Laundering Act which has helped attach the assets of offenders worth more than 12 billion dollars since 2014.

The Prime Minister recalled speaking on the challenges of fugitive economic offenders for all G20 countries and the Global South in his very first G-20 Summit in 2014. He also mentioned presenting a nine-point agenda for action against Fugitive Economic Offenders and Asset Recovery at the G-20 Summit in 2018 and expressed happiness that decisive steps are being taken by the working group. The Prime Minister welcomed the action-oriented High-Level Principles on three priority areas, namely, law enforcement cooperation through information sharing, strengthening asset recovery mechanisms, and enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of anti-corruption authorities. He expressed delight that an understanding has been reached on informal cooperation between law enforcement agencies which will prevent criminals from exploiting legal loopholes when crossing borders. Highlighting the importance of timely asset tracing and identification of proceeds of crime, the Prime Minister stressed the need to encourage countries to enhance their domestic asset recovery mechanisms. Shri Modi suggested that G20 countries can set an example by using non-conviction-based confiscations to expedite the recovery of foreign assets and said that it will ensure swift return and extradition of criminals after the due judicial process. “It will send a strong signal about our joint fight against corruption”, he emphasized.

The Prime Minister asserted that the collective efforts of G20 nations can significantly support the fight against corruption and a huge difference can be made through enhanced international cooperation and implementation of robust measures that address the root causes of corruption. Shri Modi also highlighted the role of audit institutions in the fight against corruption. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister urged the dignitaries to foster a culture of ethics and integrity in the value systems along with strengthening our administrative and legal systems. “Only by doing so, can we lay the foundation for a just and sustainable society? I wish you all a productive and successful meeting”, the PM concluded.

It’s clear that the Narendra Modi government’s move last week limiting the import of laptops and other electronics is aimed at China. It could n’t be anything but — about 60 per cent of those imports come from that country. Of course, the official messaging is all about national security and creating verified and trusted supply chains for electronics. But ‘national security’ is the mainstay of countries looking to get out of international trade agreements.

With Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar using the word “ trusted ” thrice and “ verified ” twice in the same sentence while justifying the import restriction, it’s absolutely clear that a message is being sent. The government wants to promote electronics importers to source their supplies from nations other than China.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice ballot late on Monday. I.e. on 7 August.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah acquainted the disputatious bill in the House and spoke that the proffered legislation is levelled at furnishing operative and putrefaction- free governance in the public capital. On 3 August, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice ballot after a strike by ingredients of the I.N.D.IA Alliance.

After the bill was passed in Rajya Sabha, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal spoke it was a ‘ black day ’ for India’s republic and spoke that spoke that the” law won’t allow the tagged government of Delhi work.” He also appended that it was a” personality” to the birth right to bounce of the people of Delhi.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also appended that” PM Modi doesn’t observe the Supreme Court’s order. The public had easily spoke that the Centre shouldn’t intrude in Delhi by defeating them, but PM doesn’t want to hear to the public.”

Delhi Ordinance Bill

With this bill passes, it now effectively gives the control of functionaries in Delhi to the Centre and neutralizes the recent Supreme Court judgment which gave the control of services to the tagged government of Delhi.

After the bill was passed, AAP MP Raghav Chaddha spoke that the party will clash against the bill in the bar.

No confidence stir in Parliament

While stating to journalists, he spoke, “further than 100 franchises of INDIA 🇮🇳 were against this bill. Though we couldn’t stop this bill, but we will clash against it in the bar. This conclusion has come under the reflection of the Supreme Court thrice. In 2018 and 2023, the indigenous judge has given away resolution in indulgence of Kejriwal ji. This time also the indigenous judge will give resolution in indulgence of Kejriwal ji and republic but we will clash against it in the bar.”

AAP line Atishi spoke the governing party and the people in the public capital will remain its fray against the BJP. Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AAP line told ANI,” There are numerous in the country who talk about the absence of republic in Pakistan, wondering how Bills are passed by their Parliament without any debate or concurrence.”” moment Prime Minister Modi has made the situation in India worse than in Pakistan. This is veritably unfortunate. We, along with the people of Delhi, will remain our fray against the BJP,” she appended.

What does the Delhi Ordinance Bill assert?

As per the Delhi Ordinance Bill, it proposes that conduct like dormancies and inquiries of the public capital’s officers would be under the control of the locus.

Likewise, the Bill empowers the L- G to exercise his sole discretion on several matters, involving those passed by the National Capital Civil Services Authority, and the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The Bill establishes the National Capital Civil Services administration, which consists of the chief minister, principal clerk of Delhi, and the star Home Secretary of Delhi

The administration will make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor (L- G) descrying transfers and bulletins of officers and correctional matters.