Indian PM on demonetisation: Promised corruption-free India, ready to face punishment if I committed mistake

Vowing to deliver a corruption-free country to the people, Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Sunday said the government will take action all "benami" property.

He asked the people to endure the temporary suffering due to a cash crunch in the cities after the government's announcement on November 8 to scrap RS 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. 

"I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free. I request you all to cooperate with me for 50 days to ensure this," Modi said. 

He told a gathering in the Indian state of Goa, "It is for the first time Rs 67,000 crore in black money has been deposited under amnesty scheme and a total of Rs 1,25,000 crore has been deposited in government exchequer."

The Prime Minister made an emotional appeal to the nation to join him in "bringing back any money that was looted in India and has left Indian shores. "It is our duty to find out about it", adding that he had left his home and family and dedicated his entire life to work for the nation. 

Asking people to keep faith in his fight against graft and black money, Modi said that demonetisation will prove to be a key step to help honest citizens. "Previous governments have neglected this. Did I hide anything? This is a major step to eradicate graft and black money."

Modi said the entire "secret operation involved ten months of work, printing new notes", which was finally announced on November 8.

(WION with inputs from PTI)