New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday used his reply during the ‘Motion of Thanks’ on the President’s address to launch one of the strongest attacks on Congress using West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks on differences in the INDIA bloc over seat-sharing, while expressing confidence of BJP-led NDA forming its third successive government in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls and said it will use its energy to strengthen the foundations of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said regarding the atmosphere of the House adding that the “opposition cannot suppress my voice, because the people of the country have given strength to this voice.”
The Prime Minister recalled the time of leakages of public finance, ‘fragile five’ and ‘policy paralysis’, and said that the current government worked with great consideration to bring the country out of the earlier mess.
“During the Congress government’s 10 years of rule, the entire world used words like ‘fragile five’ and policy paralysis for India. And in our 10 years – among the Top 5 economies. That is how the world talks about us today,” said.
Prime Minister countered Congress’s repeated attacks on the Centre over reservation by quoting a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to states wherein the late former PM criticised the idea of quota in government jobs.
“I am reading out its translation – “I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in services. I am strongly against anything that leads to inefficiency and second-rate standards..,” That is why I say that they are against it (reservation) by birth…Had the government recruited at that time and promoted them from time to time, they would have been here today.”
“This is a letter written by Nehru to state Chief Ministers. It shows that Congress has always been against reservation. Nehru ji used to say that if SC/ST/OBC get quotas in jobs, then the standard of government work will fall,” PM Modi said.
Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the grand old party has made a “start-up” for their ‘Yuvraj’, but he is a “non-starter.”
“Yuvraj was presented as a start-up, but he turned out to be a non-starter, he neither lifts nor launches,” he added.
The Prime Minister targeted its leader Mallikarjun Kharge and took potshots at Rahul Gandhi while stating that the opposition cannot suppress his voice and people of the country have strengthened it.
The Prime Minister said the Congress “is outdated in terms of thinking, and therefore they have outsourced their work”.
He referred to Kharge’s mention of “400 seats remark” for BJP in the House which the Congress leader had later clarified.
“Ek baat khushi ki rahi, unhone (Kharge) jo 400 seat NDA ke liye aashirwad diya hai…aapke aashirwad mere sar aankhon par,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the Congress whose leader and policy have “no guarantee” is raising questions about his policies.
“A challenge has been posed before you from West Bengal that Congress will not be able to cross 40 (in Lok Sabha elections 2024). I pray that you are able to secure 40,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the government’s effort to remove the signs of colonial mentality which were ignored by the earlier governments. He listed new ensign for the defence forces, Kartavya path, renaming the Andaman Islands, abolition of colonial laws and promotion of the Indian language and many other such steps.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the past inferiority complex regarding indigenous products, traditions and local values. He said all this is being addressed earnestly now.
Giving insights about the President’s address regarding the four most important castes namely Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, the poor and Anna Data, the Prime Minister reiterated that the development and progress of these four main pillars of India will lead to the nation becoming developed. The Prime Minister said that the 20th-century approach will not work if we want to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.