RANCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the NDA government had shown, within the first 100 days of its second term, the will and determination to “send the corrupt where they belong”.

“A massive crackdown on corruption has begun. Those who loot the country will be shown their place. In 100 days, we have taken strong decisions against some of these people. Those who thought they were above the law are now running from pillar to post seeking bail,” he told a gathering of farmers and small traders.

His remarks coincided with Congress leader P Chidambaram completing a week in Tihar Jail though the PM did not name the former finance minister whose bail plea the Delhi high court will hear on September 23.

Significantly, the opposition has accused the government of misusing agencies for political vendetta. The aggressive pitch on corruption at the rally in poll-bound Jharkhand suggests that the allegations have failed to faze the government

Modi said the overwhelming mandate had ensured that his government had the numbers to take strong decisions like getting the landmark triple talaq bill passed and nullifying Articles 370 and 35A that once guaranteed special status to Jammu & Kashmir. “We brought in strong laws for a decisive battle against terrorism ,” the PM said, referring to the amendment to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act that empowers the Centre to designate individuals as terrorists and seize their properties.

“We have taken steps to bring development to J&K and Ladakh. The benefits of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi have reached more than six crore farmers. Of these, eight lakh are from Jharkhand,” he added.

Playing on the central theme of Modi 2.0 being a “kaamdar aur dumdaar (workaholic and strong)” government, the PM said what the country had seen of the government in its first 100 days was just the trailer. “Picture abhi baaki hai (the film isn’t over yet),” he said, borrowing a line from a Shah Rukh Khan film. “It is just the beginning of the five years we have,” added Modi, sporting a traditional red turban gifted to him by Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das .

The PM launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana, a pension scheme for farmers and small traders, and the Eklavya Vidyalaya scheme for tribal students. He also laid the foundation of a Rs 1,238crore secretariat building in Ranchi.

