Each and every citizen has worked for India’s progress,” Says Modi
NEW DELHI : In his first speech in parliament after the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped piercing criticism on the Congress, referencing everything from the 1975 emergency to allegations of nepotism against the Gandhi family that chairs the party.
In the 70-minute response to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, he outlined his government’s journey and future goals, much of it posited as contrast to the Congress. Even the party’s coming to power in 2014, he indicated, happened because the voters were fed up with the Grand Old Party.
Rubbing in the crushing defeat in the polls last month, in which the Congress was left with just 52 seats, PM Modi said that the party and its leaders had “risen so high” that they “could not see the ground”. “I wish you go even higher,” he said, drawing laughter from lawmakers.
“You have risen so high that you have been uprooted from the ground. Our aim is to remain closer to the people at the grassroots and strengthen them,” he said, speaking in parliament in response to the customary motion of thanks on the President’s address.
Accusing the Congress of honouring only members of the Nehru-Gandhi family, PM Modi said, “I challenge the government that was in power between 2004-2014 to mention if they ever praised the work of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Did they ever speak about good work of Narasimha Rao ji? The same people did not even speak of Manmohan Singh ji in Lok Sabha in this debate… They never recognised anybody outside the family.”
“There are some people who feel only a few names contributed to the national progress. They only want to hear those few names and ignore the others. We think differently, we feel he added.
Underscoring his government’s focus on welfare programmes, PM Modi said that the people chose the BJP in 2014 because they were fed up with the Congress government. “In 2014, when we were new, we were not familiar with it. The country said ‘inse toh bachenge’ (we will be spared these people, meaning the Congress) and bought us to power,” the Prime Minister said.
“After this government’s five-year-long tough work… the people have made us sit here again today,” he said, sharing that the “2019 mandate came after a trial by fire”.
Speaking on the 44th anniversary of the Emergency on Tuesday, PM Modi said it was a blot on democracy that would never fade. Attacking the Gandhis, PM Modi further said people outside the family don’t get recognition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks touched upon varied issues including the water crisis in the country, corruption, farmers and employment. Speaking on the issue of employment, PM Modi says, “We have to focus on skill development of our youth.”
Bringing up the water crisis prevelant in the country, Modi says, “We have to focus on the scarcity of water in the country. The poor and the women get mosty affected.” “We have to move ahead of the old ways and save each drop of water.” “We will have to help the farmers and will have to introduce new schemes for them. With a future vision and farmer’s requirement, we want to move forward
Raising questions over the Emergency, Modi said, “Who did it? Who did it? was being asked by some people during the debate. Today is 25th June. Who imposed the Emergency? We can’t forget those dark days. Don’t forget who trampled upon our Constitution. Emergency should never be forgotten and we can’t erase the blot of the Emergency.”
“Brave women and men died for the nation during the freedom struggle. We have to build the India our freedom fighters dreamt of. I urge all to observe Gandhi Ji’s 150th birth anniversary and 75 years of India’s freedom with great enthusiasm.”
“I challenge the govt that was in power between 2004-2014 to mention if they ever praised work of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Did they ever speak about good work of Narasimha Rao Ji? The same people did not even speak of Manmohan Singh Ji in Lok Sabha in this debate,” Modi says.”We need to rise above caste and religion. 44 years ago, an attempt was to muzzle the government,” PM Modi says.
“In their speeches, if they had even once mentioned Manmohan Singh, I would have had faith,” PM took a dig at the UPA. “Our dream is to stay rooted in reality. Opposition is no longer connected to roots. Opposition is riding a high horse. All governments have contributed to India’s progress.” “Congress didn’t praise its own government.”
“This Lok Sabha elections have shown that more than themselves, the people of India are thinking about the betterment of the country, this spirit is commendable. I never think about polls in terms of victory and defeat. The opportunity to serve 130 crore Indians and work to make a positive difference in the lives of our citizens is special to me,” PM Modi says in Lok Sabha.
“After a long time, nation has given a strong mandate. Awareness of the lectorate is praiseworthy. India shouldn’t lose any opportunity to move ahead. People voted for us after testing every parameter. We want India to surge globally,” Modi speaks in Lok Sabha.
(With Agency Inputs ).
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