Modi sets up SIT on black money

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking pains to demonstrate that he means business. On the very first day in office, his engagements were packed.

From paying tributes on the 50th Death Anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to offering homage to Mahatma Gandhi in the PMO to holding eight back-to-back big bilateral talks with SAARC Heads of State and Government to meeting former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finally chairing the first Cabinet meeting in the evening, Modi gave a glimpse of the tireless work he is capable of. In fact, his busy schedule had commenced soon after his swearing-in-ceremony on Monday evening. The first step taken by Modi cabinet was the constitution of a high-powered SIT on black money.

It will be headed by Justice M B Shah who will be assisted by Justice Arijit Pasayet, who will be the Vice-Chairman. The members of the SIT will include Secretary Revenue, Deputy Governor of RBI, Director Intelligence Bureau, Director of Enforcement Directorate, CBI Director, CBDT Chairman, Director-General of Revenue Intelligence,

Director Financial Intelligence and Director RAW. The blackmoney was high on the agenda of both the BJP and the RSS during the campaign which the Modi government delivered on the very first day in office.

After the private dinner hosted by the President for the SAARC leaders on Monday night, Modi returned to Gujarat Bhawan, where he summoned top-ranking officials of the MEA for briefing on the bilaterals with the SAARC leaders. The briefings continued into the wee hours of Tuesday. Again at 8am he was at the South Block office, where he formally assumed charge. The PMO officials, who are accustomed to reaching office only around 11am, had the taste of the functioning style of Modi, when they all had to reach office by 7am. At the office, he was given a briefing on the working of the PMO. Alongside the techno-savvy Modi tweeted his homage to Nehru saying, “I pay my tributes to our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his Punya Tithi.” From there he drove down to Hyderabad House, which was the venue for the bilateral meetings.

Modi’s meeting with Manmohan Singh came unexpected as he never shied away from targeting his predecessor during the highly-charged up election campaign. He met Singh at his new residence where he had shifted after vacating the official residence at 7 Race Course Road.

Several of the Union Ministers assumed charge on Tuesday following the lead provided by Narendra Modi who hit the ground on the very first day in office.