(Image source from: PM Modi keep MPs on a tight leash to prevent SCAMS like in Congress})

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be walking the whole hog to curb corruption in the country. From installing CCTVs to closely monitoring the individual ministers, PM Modi is ensuring that Congress-like Scams do not plague the NDA government.

PM Modi declared his crusade against corruption August 12 when he publicly reiterated at the Kargil rally saying: 'na khaoonga, na khane doonga (won't take bribe, won't let others take)'.

Modi's men including ministers, Mps, bureaucrats and government servants have got the message that the PM has zero tolerance on corruption.

Here are some latest diktats and moves of prime minister Narendra Modi:

Installing CCTVs in ministries

For the first time closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) are being installed in major central ministries of the Modi government. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, a cash-rich ministry, is the first to be installed with CCTVs as major deals, orders and contracts valued at billions take place here. The proposal to install CCTVs in the petroleum ministry has been cleared and soon there will be video recording of meetings and events. More ministries will be installed with CCTVs in future. Next in line could be the Defence ministry, another hub of big deals.

Cabinet notes made under PMO's directions

PM Modi seems to be moving towards micro-management of the ministries. The Modi government has made another unprecedented decision regarding cabinet notes made by individual ministries regarding their future plans and functioning. Under the new rule the union ministries will have to consult the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and wait for its instructions before drafting cabinet notes. In future, the ministries will be micro-managed by the PMO it seems.

DAVP’s advertisements to newspapers under scanner

Newspapers which have been receiving advertisements from the Information and Broadcasting ministry’s Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) has come under the scrutiny of PMO. The PMO has asked the DAVP to submit all information and data regarding advertisements given in the last ten years to media houses. PMO wants to track how much government money was given to which media house in the past 10 years (during UPA tenure).
The government wants to regulate investment of government money into media houses through advertisements that had helped to keep them afloat. Several mainline newspapers may be hit by this move of the government as they have survived mainly on government doles by way of advertisements.

Ministers under Modi's constantly scrutiny

PM Modi keeps a constant watch over the Union ministers. Some of them received a rude jolts when the PM himself reminded them that he is watching them.

At one instance, a Union minister was having a lunch/dinner at a five star hotel in New Delhi with a top business tycoon, who is close to PM Modi. In between his meal, the PM calls the minister inquiring if the meal was over. The call was brief, but the message was conveyed to the minister. He quickly wrapped the meeting and returned to his office.

In another case, a minister was headed towards the Indira Gandhi International airport for his maiden foreign trip some months back. He was dressed in jeans. The minister had hardly gone a kilometer and a half when the PM calls him on his mobile. The PM asked him casually as to where he was going. The minister reminded him of his foreign trip that was cleared by the government. He was confounded when Modi chided him for his choice of clothes (jeans). The PM told him that he was a public servant and will be under public scrutiny in India as well as abroad and could be criticized. So the minister went back to his residence, changed into the kurta-pyjama and went for his foreign trip.

PM Narendra Modi is a strict task master. Not only he wants his ministers and top bureaucrats to do the job, but he also expects them to be upright in public life. The fear of being caught by Modi is so great that the ministers and Babus have started borrowing phones of their drivers and aides as an idle conversations is not ‘safe’ on their personal phones.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)