New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday replied to the debate on the Vote of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha. Amid a clamour of dissent from the Opposition benches which linked the Prime Minister with industrialist Gautam Adani, as well as those calling for a JPC probe into allegations by the Hindenburg group against the business conglomerate, Modi was seen in attack mode.
Lambasting the Opposition while counting feats achieved by the BJP government in the Centre steered by himself, the Prime Minister alleged that previous Congress governments had caused the collapse of 90 state governments across the country. Former PM Indira Gandhi herself had played a frontal role in invoking the Article 356 of the constitution, he also claimed.
While the Opposition sloganeering continued throughout his speech, Modi addressed the issue, saying the "attitude of some people and their speech" was "frustrating the country". "Jitna kichad uchalo ge, Kamal utna hi khilega" (the more you throw mud/the more the lotus will bloom).
Here are the excerpts:
- All know the name of the party who misused Article 356 of the Constitution the most. They toppled elected governments a total of 90 times. former PM Indira Gandhi invoked Article 356 more than 50 times. Pandit Nehru had toppled the elected CPI(M) government in Kerala, yet they stand in the Opposition today. The same happened with DMK in Tamil Nadu, as well as with Sharad Pawar and NTR. Newspapers used to note at the time that every Raj Bhavan had been turned into Congress party offices.
- The policies of this government are the perfect mixture of national progress and regional aspirations. I myself have been a chief minister, so I understand the significance of federalism.
- More than 350 private enterprises have entered the Defense sector. Indis is conducting exports to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore in this sector.
- Some had problems with names of schemes of govt & Sanskrit words in the names. I read in report that 600 govt schemes were in the Gandhi-Nehru family's name...I don't understand why people from their generation don't keep Nehru as their surname, what's the fear & shame?
- Our government has given priority to the issue of women empowerment. We brought in schemes to ensure pregnant women would receive direct funds in their bank accounts, so that both the mother and the child get adequate nutrition. There was a twisted mindset of finishing off the unborn girl child, but by bringing in the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme, the government has ensured an increase in birth rate of baby girls in this country.
- A member of the Parliament recently asked whether providing toilets for women would lead them toward empowerment. I cannot speak for them, but what I can say is I have spent my fair share of time in the state, in villages. I feel pride to acknowledge that by building 11 crore toilets in rural areas.
- Our government has cared for the small farmers, who had to rely on rainfall when cultivating food crops due to lack of progress in irrigation. We turned the situation around, and now those who are cultivating millets can reap the benefits. We contacted the United Nations for the branding of India's millets, and now millets have been promoted in the name of Sri Anna and this will help the small-time farmers.
- In Amrit Kal, we have decided to bring saturation in every field.
- Allocation for tribes before 2014 was Rs 20,000 crore. Now it is 1.2 lakh crore. We have started 500 Ekalavya Schools - we have decided to recruit 38,000 teachers. We have given 60 lakh new pattas (land ownership records) in the last five years.
- Fro decades, the development of the tribal community was ignored. We gave priority to their welfare. 1800 villages were without electricity. These villages were tribal villages and those in the North East. we promised to supply electricity and we have done so. We didn't leave those people to their fate. We didn't do this for politics. We did it for the people of the country, and they, in turn, have blessed us and because of this we are here.
- We have used technology to our benefit. We have brought Gati Shakti master plan and by using technology, we can complete planning in weeks, which earlier used to take months.
- Rs 27 lakh crore has been transferred to the accounts of the people. This has saved more than Rs 2 lakh crore because earlier, that used to go to wrong hands.
- Kharge ji was complaining that I come to his constituency. but I came to Karnataka for work. 1.7 core Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened. Meanwhile, people have closed the khata (account) of Congress.
- Empowerment of common people - Many people couldn't even reach the door of the banks. We have opened Jan Dhan bank counts and more than 48 crore people have come on board.
- One of their (previous government) ministers went to inaugurate a water tank and that was in the headlines in the next day's newspaper. At present, we have ensured the supply of water to three crore people.
- They had the responsibility to solve the problems, but their priorities and intentions were different. We are looking for a permanent solution. We are taking into consideration the basic problems of the country. This is the signature of our government.
- Kharge said "we have built the country's foundation in the last 60 years, but the credit is taken by Modi." These 60 years they have opened only ditches - there was no foundation. When they were digging ditches, the smaller countries were progressing steadily. They had such a stable government that from Panchatyat to government they had everything
- In this glorious House some people’s attitude and their speech is frustrating the country. Kichad uske pas tha/ mere pas gulal/ Jo bhi Jiske pas jo tha usne diya uchal (Some people had mud in their hands, but I had colours/ Everyone threw whatever they had in their hands). Jitna kichad uchalo ge / kamal utna hi khilega (The more you throw dirt lotus will grow).
