Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday issued a warning to the dishonest people, saying their problems are set to increasing in the coming days. "After 50 days - when the demonetisation will end - honest peoples' hardships will start decreasing while those who are corrupt, their problems will increase," the PM said after inaugurating two Metro rail projects in Mumbai.

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PM Modi termed the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes a historic decision of the government, saying "the people of India will not accept corruption and black money".

"Our battle to fight corruption has been going on since the day we assumed office. A historic decision was taken on 8th November," the PM said.

The PM said people faced many hardships after demonetisation, but they still continued to support him (government) without getting influenced by the critics.

"There were efforts to mislead and even intimidate people but they supported us in the battle against corruption and black money," he said.

The development projects whose foundation stones were laid today are going to have a transformative impact on Mumbai's infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/t74GUliuej — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2016

He also said that only development can solve major problems in the country and the strength of 125 crore Indians will bring about change .

Development is the only way to live with honour and hence the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had always kept their focus on development, the PM Modi said after laying the foundation stone of Shivaji statue, at the MMRDA grounds.

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Praising Shivaji Maharaj, he said, "He (Shivaji Maharaj) was a multifaceted personality. So many aspects of his personality inspire us"

"His courage was known but there are so many more aspects of Shivaji Maharaj we must know about. Look at his policies on water, finance," he added.

"Even after 70 years of independence, 18,000 villages had been forced to live in the 18th century," PM Modi said while taking pot shots at the previous governments.

PM @narendramodi addressing at Foundation Stone Laying ceremony of two metro corridors and other projects in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/n8zG2XtMhE — PIB India (@PIB_India) December 24, 2016

Earlier, PM Modi also hinted at unleashing more radical reforms , saying his government will not shy away from taking difficult decisions that are in the national interest. And the hardship caused by demonetisation was only temporary, and that it would bring long-term benefits.