PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi Friday told bureaucrats that before taking any decision they should determine whether the political party in power is using taxpayers’ money to create a vote bank or is it in national interest, and whether that political party is changing policies to create “new avenues of black money for its masters”.

“The criterion for you is the interest of the country… Today I want to add one more thing to this criterion for India’s bureaucracy. I am sure you will meet this criterion also,” said the Prime Minister, addressing an event to mark the 16th Civil Services Day, which was attended by senior bureaucrats.

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Stating that political parties are important in a democracy, he said, “This is the beauty of democracy. Every party has its own ideology. The Constitution has given this right to every party but as a bureaucrat, as a government employee, now you must take care of some questions in every decision you take.”

Listing the questions, he told the bureaucrats, “Friends, the political party which has come to power is it using taxpayers’ money for its own benefit or for the benefit of the country, where it is being used?”

“Is that political party using government money for its expansion or is it using that money for development of the country? Is that political party looting government money to make its own vote bank or to make people’s lives easier?,” he said. “Is that political party promoting itself with government money, or is it honestly making people aware? Is that political party appointing its own workers in various organisations or is it giving everyone an opportunity to get jobs in a transparent manner?”

“Woh raajneetik dal neetiyon mein isliye to pherbadal nahin kar raha taaki uske aakaon kee kaalee kamaee ke nae raaste banen? (Is that political party making changes in policies so that new avenues of black money can be created for its masters?),” the Prime Minister said.

“Aap apne har phaisle s