Corruption has troubled us for long, we are determined to eliminate it, says PM Modi in Qatar

Addressing the Indian community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Qatar that there was tremendous enthusiasm towards India across the world.

Doha: Addressing the Indian community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Qatar, said on Sunday that there was tremendous enthusiasm towards India across the world and it had been made possible due to 125 crore people of the country.

Attending a special reception before departure, PM Modi said, "People of India in Qatar are never away from India even for a minute. They are re-living India on the soil of Qatar."

"Today the whole world is attracted to India. Even you must have felt the change underway in India. India's image has been enhanced globally. When there is a spurt in national confidence and a surge in your global image, your desire to strive for the country is ignited," PM Modi said.

He added, "Global agencies are in agreement that if there is a fastest growing economy, it is India. Our growth rate is high. The world economy too is not doing so well at this moment. Yet, despite this India is growing. Monsoon has not been very good in the last two years, India has been growing despite that."

"Pick up World Bank or any other agency's ratings, they all say that India is growing at a fast pace. 7.9% was last recorded growth." PM Modi pointed out.

Audience says, "Thanks to you," to which the PM replies, "You are saying 'thanks to Modi', this change isn't because of me. It is because of all the 125 crore citizens of India."

On the issue of graft he said, "Corruption has troubled us for long. We are determined to eliminate it. We have introduced several schemes for combating corruption, for fiscal discipline and economic reforms."

Meanwhile, India and Qatar today agreed to share intelligence to combat 'hawala' transactions and terror financing as the two countries signed seven agreements and decided to move beyond the trading relationship and get into strategic investments.

The two sides highlighted the need to 'isolate' the sponsors and supporters of terrorism and agreed that urgent action against all such entities, which support terrorism and use it as an instrument of policy, must be taken.

At the end of wide-ranging talks, PM Modi had with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Qatari leadership, the two sides decided to constitute an inter-ministerial high-level joint committee to regularly review all bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.

An MoU was signed between the Finance Intelligence Unit -India (FIU) and Qatar Financial Information Unit to share intelligence on illegal movement of money, termed as 'hawala'.

"The two sides further agreed to take action against illegal transfer of money," a joint statement issued after the talks said.

There is a lot of money flow and investment from Qatar. A number of black money investigations have taken Indian authorities to Qatar's shores and such an MoU is seen as a move to help combat money offences.

Under this pact, the two sides also agreed to exchange financial intelligence to combat thawala and other economic offences.

Briefing reporters, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said: "They (Qatari side) also realise that terror does pose a threat to both of us and to our region.

(With PTI inputs)