PM Narendra Modi highlighted today that ‘India first’ is the only religion of his government and Constitution is the only holy book while asserting his commitment to work for the welfare of people of all sections and religions and hit back at accusations of ‘intolerance’ that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was accused of. PM Modi speech lasted about 70 minutes during which opposition members raked up the issue of ‘intolerance’ and questioned his silence over the issue. With Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi listening, Modi showered praise on Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was a great personality, and rejected the perception that the NDA government was trying to deny credit to him. Check out the top 10 Narendra Modi highlights of speech:

1. PM Narendra Modi ruled out any review of the Constitution and reached out to the Opposition by saying that the ruling side does not believe in forcing decisions using its majority but believes in working through consensus.

2. Narendra Modi rejected the Congress contention that the NDA government was trying to deny due credit or undermining the role of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, to whom he paid rich tributes.

3. Speaking in the backdrop of attack over ‘intolerance’, he asserted that diversity is the strength of India and it needs to be nurtured.

4. Narendra Modi added, “For the government, the only ‘dharma’ is ‘India first, the only ‘dharma granth’ (holy book) is the Constitution.”

5. Modi averred, “The country will run by the Constitution and it should be run by the Constitution. India has fundamentally grown on this ideology. The country has the internal energy amassed over thousands of years which gives it the stimulus and capacity to deal with crises.”

6. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru repeatedly, he underlined that the ‘Idea of India’ is reflected by the aspects like ‘Ahinsa Parmo Dharma (non-violence is supreme duty), ‘Sarv Dharma Sambhav’ (equal respect to all religions) and ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ (entire world is a family).”

7. PM said, “Our country has been there for thousands of years. Shortcomings do come. Even vices do crop up. But there is something that keeps us going. Even when vices come up, solutions also emerge from within the society….It is like ‘auto pilot corrective arrangement and this is our strength”.

8. Asserting that the thrust of his government is on ‘sabka sath’ (cooperation from all), PM Modi  said, “no section of the society should lag behind. If any part of the body is paralysed, the body cannot be called healthy. We have to empower people from all sections, be it any community, region or language.”

9. Noting that India has 12 religions, 122 languages and 1600 dialects and comprises people who are believers in God as well as atheists, he said, “all should get justice. There should be harmony. There are people who believe in the God and those who do not believe in the God. There are people who do idol worship.. All have different views. They have aspirations and expectations which have to be accommodated.” Modi noted that Ambedkar had taken these aspects into consideration while framing the Constitution.

10. Allaying apprehensions in some sections, the Prime Minister asserted that there will be no review of the Constitution as its framers, like Ambedkar, have done an extraordinary and visionary task. Describing the Constitution as a “social document” which is perfect, he said there should be maximum propagation about it among the masses as its provisions are the ‘marg darshak’ (guide).