Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: PM Narendra Modi replies to the motion of thanks on President’s address in Lok Sabha.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday replied to the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister hit out at the Congress for questioning Rafale deal. He also hit out at the grand old party for questioning the autonomy of institutions such as RBI, CBI and Judiciary. He said that it was the Congress that undermined these institutions and imposed emergency on the country.
The Lok Sabha today took up the motion of thanks on the Presidential address to the joint session of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session.
President Ram Nath Kovind had addressed the joint session of the Parliament on January 31. He had heaped praise on the Modi government for its work done in over the last four years. Speaking on the floor of the house, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Presidential address resonated the words of the Prime Minister.
Earlier in the day, the opposition leaders attacked the government over issues ranging from institutions autonomy to farmers’ issue. Asaduddin Owaisi raised foreign policy issues.
Lok Sabha
Highlights
Budget Session LIVE: Congress MP raises NRC issue
CPI-M demands withdrawal of fee hike in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Lok Sabha: Congress' Mallkarjun Kharge speaks
Lok Sabha: BJP's Nishikant Dubey demands CBI inquiry into chit fund companies
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm
Undermining institutions
In a sharp attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said that those who imposed Emergency were now accusing him of destroying institutions. "Congress imposed Emergency, but they say Modi is destroying institutions. Congress insults Army, calls the Army chief a 'goonda' but they say Modi is destroying institutions," he said. He also said that the Congress misused Article 356 to dismiss state governments several times. Indira Gandhi herself dismissed state governments 50 times.
Rafale
The Prime Minister hit back at the Congress saying that it did not want the Indian Air Force to be strong. He asked: "Which companies are they bidding for that they are acting so shamefully?"
Mahagathbandhan or Mahamilavat
Prime Minister Modi took potshots at attempts to form a grand alliance of opposition parties to take on the BJP. He said people did not want a "mahamilavat" (highly adulterated) government as they have seen how the NDA government which has a majority can deliver.
Autonomy of institutions
The Prime Minister said: "Congress bullies the judiciary but Modi is destroying institutions. Congress calls Planning Commission a bunch of jokers... but Modi is destroying institutions.
Prime Minister Modi took potshots at attempts to form a grand alliance of opposition parties to take on the BJP. He said that people do not want a "mahamilavat" (highly adulterated) government as they have seen how the NDA government which has a majority can deliver.
Today Kharge was reading some saying of (poet) Basavanna. I want to ask you that you are from Karnataka, why are you remembering him now after so many years? If you had read him 25-30 years back then you would have not taken the wrong path and policies: PM Modi
India will be friends with both Israel and Palestine. India will be friends with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. Our foreign policy has led to India's voice becoming stronger on the world stage. Also, I am happy that after our efforts other parties are also reaching out to NRIs, it is good: PM Modi
The world now listens to India on all important issues. Take the example of Paris Agreement, all important countries called up to know India's position. Isral and Palestine both can be our friends: PM Modi
PM Modi said that some state governments are sayng that they won't take Rs 6000 per annum under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi. He said that these government should first ask their farmers before refusing the money. "This money won't go from your account," he said.
Defending the job creation in the last four years, PM Modi said: "In the last 4 years, 6.35 lakh new professionals have come up. Do you think if a doctor opens a clinic or a nursing home then he will employ only one person? or does a CA only employ one person?"
Mahatma Gandhi had back then recommended the dissolution of Congress party. So Congress-mukt Bharat' is not my slogan but I am just fulfilling the wish of Gandhi: PM
The Congress doesn't' want our Air Force to be strong, I am levelling a serious allegation here. You (Congress) want this Rafale deal to be cancelled, on whose behest? For which company? In our neighbourhood, everyone is building war capabilities, why didn't we do it in all these years? This is criminal negligence. Congress doesn't want a strong Indian Air Force: PM Modi
Two songs became very popular, 'Baaki kuch bacha to mehgayi maar gayi' and 'mehgai dayen khaaye jaat hai' both these songs were in who's tenure? First during Indira ji, and second during remote control Govt. Inflation and Congress have a strong bond: PM Modi
Prime Minister Modi said that about 20000 NGOs have shut their operations after the government sought details of their funding. "And these numbers may increase in future," Modi said.
Prime Minister Modi said that Benami Law was brought by the Congress but why was it never implemented. He said that his government implemented Benami Law and now people are getting caught for having the benami properties.
Speaking on Rafale, PM Modi said that the Congress was lying in the whole controversy because they think no defence deal can be done without dalali (commission/kickbacks). He said that Nirmala Sitharaman had answered to all the allegations in detail.
PM Modi hit out at the Congress for favouring the culture of 'phone banking'. He talked about massive NPAs that the previous government left behind. In an apparent reference to Vijay Mallya, PM Modi also said that who fled the country are today crying on Twitter. "They are saying that I had taken Rs 7,800 crore but the government has attached properties worth Rs 13,000 crore," PM Modi said.
People have seen the work a government with an absolute majority can do. They have seen our work. They do not want a 'Mahamilavat' (mahagathbandhan) government of those who recently gathered in Kolkata: PM Modi in Lok Sabha
The Congress insults Army, calls the Army Chief a 'Gunda' but it is Modi who is destroying institutions? Congress leaders create stories that Indian Army is planning a coup but it is Modi who is destroying institutions?
Prime Minister Modi said that so far, India had seen that milawat (mixed) government and now mahamilawat (mahagathbandhan) is coming. He further said that this mahagathbandhan government won't come to power. He further said that people know parties cannot see each other in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
India is seeing remarkable progress in the last four years. In all spheres, investment, steel sector, startups, milk and agriculture, aviation, India's progress is outstanding: PM Modi
Referring to Mallikarjun Kharge's recent dissent to CBI director's appointment, PM Modi said that the Congress leader has become a habitual dissenter. Mallikarjun Kharge had dissented to Alok Verma's appointment and also dissented when he was removed.
PM Modi said that the Congress has misused 356 in its tenure. Indira Gandhi alone had imposed emergency 50 times. The Congress removed the Left government in Kerala.
For some BC and AD mean 'Before Congress and After Dynasty': PM
Taking a swipe at the Congress, PM Modi said that for some for some BC and AD mean 'Before Congress and After Dynasty'. He said that in an apparent reference to the induction of Priyanka Gandhi into Congress.
BC: Before Congress AD: After Dynasty
Prime Minister Modi said that people should criticise but they should not say anything that brings disrespect to the country. Referring to EVM hackathon, PM Modi said that people did a fake press conference in London.
Prime Minister Modi thanked President Ram Nath Kovind for his address. He also thanked all the speakers before him. He said that this is the election time so we all have to go back to people to give our report card.
BJP leader Meenakashi Lekhi slammed the opposition parties for questioning the government. She reminded the previous government's performance, a corruption scandal and lower growth of the economy. Lekhi said that the opposition was surprised as to how this government came with such a wonderful budget.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj rejected Asaduddin Owaisi's claims that it was not Pakistan but India that was isolated in SAARC. Owaisi while speaking in the House had said that the US was speaking to Taliban without even consulting India and New Delhi was isolated in SAARC.
The government violated its oath by standing by one particular religion. Asaduddin Owaisi referred to the centre's plea in the Supreme Court seeking the return of excess land to the original owner. He also said that India has now been isolated in SAARC.
TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee while speaking in the House said that the present government has destroyed all the institutions. He said the CBI has now become a circus. Kalyan also referred to infighting at the CBI. He also said that the government was also interfering in the judiciary.
TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee while speaking in the House said that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has done more than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He talked about multiple schemes including removing the tax on lands. Kalyan also said that Modi failed in creating jobs and curbing farmers' suicide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the motion later today. Leaders of all the parties will participate in the motion of thanks. President Ram Nath Kovind had addressed the joint session of the Parliament on January 31.
Raising the issue of NRC, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the government should speed up the implementation of National Register of Citizens. He said passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill would violate the Assam Accord. "The bill is unconstitutional," he added.
CPI-M member MB Rajesh demanded immediate withdrawal of fee hike in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. The fee was hiked from Rs 200 to Rs 600. "This is unjustifiable and unacceptable," he said.
Kharge said that the President's address is the same as what the Prime Minister has said here and outside in the last five years. Kharge also said that the Prime Minister speaks only about himself. "The President's address was used to score political points and it is a new low in politics," he said.
BJP member Nishikant Dubey in Lok Sabha Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into the functioning of chit fund companies and jail for people involved in ponzi schemes. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he said people in states like West Bengal have been hit by chit fund companies as they take deposits illegally. "All chit fund companies should be closed and CBI should do an inquiry. Jail people who are behind these," Dubey said. Without taking any name, he said after 2011 in West Bengal, the number of companies increased rapidly. These firms, he alleged, are being run by a nexus of journalists, bureaucrats and politicians.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM on Thursday as Opposition parties especially SP and BSP protested over the issue of faculty reservation in Universities even as the government assured them that it will file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Members of SP, BSP, RJD and CPI, who had given notices to discuss the issue, were not satisfied with the government's reply that it will file a review petition in the apex court.