New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Rozgar Mela on Saturday and highlighted how the previous UPA government’s greed for power had devastating effects on the national interest and the banking sector. However, he emphasised that his government’s corrective measures have successfully nursed the banking system back to good financial health, making India one of the countries with the strongest banking sectors.
Speaking to over 70,000 recruits virtually, many of whom were employed in the banking sector, Modi pointed out how the banking system was “destroyed” during the Congress-led dispensation before his government took action.
“There are many examples of the destruction which is caused when the greed for power overrides national interest. Our banking sector has suffered this destruction under the previous government,” he told the young recruits.
Modi singled out the “phone banking” scam as one of the biggest scandals of the previous government, which severely impacted the banking system. He described how this scam involved the disbursement of loans worth thousands of crores to the favourites of powerful leaders and families, with no intention of ever paying them back.
To rectify the situation, the NDA government took several measures, including enhancing the management of banks, merging smaller banks, and injecting professionalism into the sector. The public sector banks were earlier known for losses running into thousands of crores of rupees and non-performing assets (NPAs), but now they are known for record profits, the prime minister said.
Modi also praised the hard work and dedication of banking sector employees in executing various government schemes to support the poor and unorganised sectors through loans under the ‘Mudra’ scheme and to empower women self-help groups.
Comments