Mangaluru: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s famous remark in 1985, that only 15 paise of every rupee meant for the welfare of the downtrodden reaches them, has found mention in the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ujire on Sunday. He made the remarks while launching a scathing attack on Congress over corruption, and did so without naming the party.

Prime Minister Modi said his government was committed to ensuring that every rupee that sets out from Delhi reaches the poor. He asked which ‘hand’ was responsible for only 15 paise reaching the beneficiaries. Pointing out that Rs 57,000 crore was getting siphoned off before reaching the right beneficiaries, he said the government has decided that every rupee that sets out of from Delhi reaches the poor.

Modi was addressing a mammoth gathering at a programme organized by the Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) at Ratnavarma Heggade Stadium in Ujire, Dakshina Kannada district on Sunday.

Taking jibes at the opposition, Modi said, “There were several schemes for the welfare of poor. There was no clarity whether benefits of the schemes goes to the right persons or is diverted. One of our Prime Ministers had said that for every one rupee sent from Delhi, only 15 paise reaches villages. Who’s hand reduces the value of the rupee”.

He said the direct benefit transfer scheme was launched to ensure that the benefits of government schemes directly reaches the intended beneficiaries. “Tell us whose pocket that Rs 57,000 crore was going? Money was being stolen. Now it has been stopped. Will they like Modi when they are not able to pocket that amount? Won’t they speak against Modi? I assert standing at this holy town that I will not allow them to destroy our nation. I have learnt to live and deal with allegations from my childhood itself,” Modi said.

Modi also took a dig at the opposition for always speaking critically on the digital India initiatives of the government. “They spoke against digital India when we launched it, but Veerendra Heggade (dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmastala) has proved that it is possible. He has successfully initiated complete digital transaction processes for all Self-Help Group members under the SKDRDP,” he added.