'Govt's Action Against Corruption Will Continue': PM Modi On Raids By Central Agencies

New Delhi: While replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a big attack on the Opposition over nepotism and dynasty politics and said that it seems that the Opposition members will remain in the Opposition for a long time. “You have taken a resolution to remain in the Opposition…the people of India will give you their blessings…" the PM said. Further taking a potshot at the Opposition, PM Modi said, "The way you sat here (in govt) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition)...The public will certainly give you its blessings..."

Sharpening his attack on the Congress party, the Prime Minister held the Grand Old Party responsible for the 'condition of the Opposition' today. “They got so many opportunities, but they were not able to do their duty in 10 years," the PM said while replying to the Motion Of Thanks in Lok Sabha. "I can see many people in the opposition have lost hope, strength to even fight elections. I've heard that many want to go to RS instead of Lok Sabha, they are figuring things out. The President's address is in a way based on facts, and truth and is a big proof of reality that is presented in front of people,'' the PM said.

''After hearing the Opposition speech, I can say that it's clear that they will sit there for more time to come,'' said PM Modi. Taking a swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the PM said, "They are trying to launch one product again and again.''

 

#WATCH | PM Modi attacks Congress, Rahul Gandhi, says, "Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai..." pic.twitter.com/uGtG3kALQO — ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

 

Speaking on nepotism and dynasty politics, the PM said, “I do not speak about family members of politicians being in parties but of parties which are run by families. If the father is the head of the party, his son only will be his successor”. 

Comparing the work done by his government with that of Congress-led regimes in the past, the PM said, ''India will be the be 3rd largest economy, this is Modi’s guarantee.'' The PM quoted former PM Manmohan Singh’s 2013 speech, saying, “They were proud of being the 11th largest economy. They saw a vision that India would be the third largest in 30 years. We will not allow the nation to wait for so long. In the next term, we will fulfil it - this is Modi’s guarantee”. He made these remarks while comparing the speed at which the BJP government works to the Congress governments in the past.

During his reply to the Motion of Thanks, the PM cited late PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech, saying that he felt Indians were not as intelligent, and hard-working as the Europeans. Quoting late PM Indira Gandhi, he added that she felt that whenever the country was progressing, people were involved in self-interest. “They were wrong about Indians, but were right about the Congress party,” PM Modi said. 

 

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi read out a statement from a speech of former PM late Jawaharlal Nehru, in Lok Sabha today.

PM Modi said, "...It means that Nehru ji thought that Indians are lazy and less intelligent." pic.twitter.com/GBba9NEbz3 — ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

 

“We gave 4 crore homes, it would have taken 5 generations (100 years) as per Congress government’s speed. We electrified 40,000 km, it would have taken 4 generations (80 years) as per the Congress government’s speed. We provided 100% sanitation coverage, it would have taken 3 generations (60 years) as per the Congress government’s speed. This is Modi’s guarantee,” PM Modi said while highlighting his government’s achievements and speedy implementation. 

Taking a dig at the Opposition INDIA bloc, the PM said, "''The alignment of the alliance has shaken. If they can't trust each other, how will they trust the people.''

 

#WATCH | "Alliance ka hi alignment bigad gaya," says PM Modi as he targets INDIA alliance. pic.twitter.com/x97pfmV1ex — ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

 

PM Modi continued by slamming the Congress and the Opposition leaders for insulting the OBC community and their leaders. ''Congress didn't do any justice to the OBC community. They humiliated their leaders. When Karpoori Thakur was awarded the Bharat Ratna. But remember, how he was treated. When he became the Chief Minister, conspiracies were hatched to remove him from the post,'' PM Modi said.

Hailing the construction of Ram Temple In Ayodhya, the PM said, ''Lord Ram not only returned to his home but a temple was built which gave a new energy to the country.'' While reiterating the 'Ab ki baar, 400 Paar' slogan, the PM said that BJP's third government is not far.

PM Modi also praised the 'Nari Shakti' during his speech in Parliament, saying, "From space to Olympics, Sashastra Bal to Sansad, the country has seen the empowerment of women." Comparing the previous attitude of people as to when women would marry on joining jobs, he said now they are asking, “When will open your bank accounts?”. Similarly, he says, people asked how women will continue working while pregnant, adding, “Now they get 6 months paid maternity leave with the extension”.  

On the issue of spiralling inflation, the PM said, ''We have kept inflation under control despite two global wars and once in a lifetime pandemic.” He claimed that whenever Congress came to power inflation was at its peak, listing the rates during late PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the last UPA govt.  "History is witness that when Congress comes to power it brings inflation..." the PM said. "Two songs on inflation were superhits in our country - 'Mehngai Mar Gayi' and 'Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai'. Both of these songs came during Congress' governance. Inflation was in double digits during UPA's tenure, it can't be denied. What was their government's logic? Insensitivity. They said - you can have expensive ice creams but why do you cry about inflation?... Whenever Congress came to power, it strengthened inflation," PM Modi said in Lok Sabha.

Talking about the new deals India has signed with foreign countries, PM Modi highlighted the job opportunities opening in aviation, tourism, and construction. "Startups, digital creators, unicorns, gig economy - these are the new vocabulary of the new Bharat. Today, India is a leading digital economy," said PM Modi during his reply on the President's address in Parliament.

Speaking on the ongoing ED and CBI raids in the country, the PM said, ''We have used all that money for the cause of poor and marginalised. People who have looted from the country will have to return the money. Adhir Ranjan ji here has seen the heaps of cash being seized from his state.'' Agencies are taking action against corruption and there's outrage over it. Ten years ago in our parliament, there were discussions on scams and the house used to demand action every time. Today, when action is being taken against the corrupt then some people oppose that. During their time, agencies were political tools,'' said PM Modi.

The PM concluded his speech by saying, ''I want you to support me to make the lives of the citizens of the country prosperous but if you don't do that and just throw bricks at me then I will use that brick to build a developed India.'' 

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 31, the first day of the Budget Session. The debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address began on Friday and will conclude on Monday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in Lok Sabha to be present in the lower house on the fourth day of the ongoing budget session.

About sixty speakers took part in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha. The Motion of Thanks on the President's address was passed unanimously in LokSabha. However, the amendment brought by several opposition MPs to the President's address was not approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker, according to Sansad TV.  The Budget Session of Parliament that commenced on January 31 will conclude on February 9.