Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led a fierce charge against the Congress party in Parliament and made a strident case in defence of the government’s decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act. Replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament, the Prime Minister targeted the Opposition over the CAA protests and accused them of fear-mongering and misleading the country. Cornering the Congress on the issue, the Prime Minister quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to suggest that India’s first Prime Minister had also called for treating Hindu and Muslim refugees differently.
He also said the Pt Nehru was in favour of amending the law, if required, to ensure that Hindu refugees are taken care of by India. In a no-holds-barred attack against the Congress, the Prime Minister blamed the party for the partition of the country and said that it was carried out to fulfil one man’s wishes to become the Prime Minister of the country. He also took on Opposition leaders for sharing stage with the anti-CAA protesters, saying that the nation was watching closely how some leaders were getting their photographs clicked with those who raised slogans to divide India.
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PM Modi justifies changes in NPR: "NPR and census are normal government procedures, which have been carried out earlier also. But when vote bank politics is a necessity than those who carried out NPR earlier, spread misinformation about it now," says PM Modi.
PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: Is it ok to misguide and misinform the nation (on CAA)? Can anybody be a part of a campaign that does this? The path being taken on CAA by many Opposition parties is very unfortunate.
PM Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha: "Vaiko ji said 5 August 2019 was a black day for Jammu and Kashmir. Vaiko ji it was not a black day for J&K, it was a black day for those who promoted terrorism and separatism."
PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: 'For the first time in decades, people of Jammu and Kashmir got benefits of reservation. There were Blocked Development Council polls, Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act came into being there. An anti-corruption bureau was set up there.'
PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: People do not forget things easily. I want to remind Ghulam Nabi Azad ji about the way in which proceedings regarding the creation of Telangana took place here, doors were closed and live telecast was prohibited."
Prime Minister Modi in Rajya Sabha: "Ghulam Nabi Azad ji said the decisions on Jammu and Kashmir were taken without any discussion. This is not correct. The entire nation had witnessed the detailed discussions on the subject. MPs have voted in favour of the decisions".
PM Modi said, "Someone had to become Prime Minister so a line was drawn in India and the country was divided."
Attacking the opposition parties over CAA protests, PM Narendra Modi said that much has been said about CAA, ironically by those who love getting photographed with the group of people who want ‘Tukde Tukde’ of India. "Those who have been removed from office by the people of India are now doing the unthinkable. They see citizens on the basis of their faith. We are different. We see everyone as an Indian," he said.
PM Narendra Modi said that Muslims are just a votebank for Congress, but Indians for us. He said that Pakistan has been working to instill fear amonf Indian Muslims. "Every Indian equal for us," he said.
PM Narendra Modi said that there have been statements made by former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir (Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah) that are not acceptable to us.
On Jammu and Kahsmir, PM Narendra Modi said that those who are talking about respect for the Constitution never even implemented it in Jammu and Kashmir for so many decades. "Who made Kashmir only about land grabbing? Who made Kashmir's identity only about bombs and guns? Can anyone forget that dark night of January? In reality, Kashmiri identity is closely linked with harmony," he said.
Without naming any political party, he said, "India is closely seeing the statements of a few political leaders associated with the opposition parties." He said that there are people in this House who have suffered due to political violence in West Bengal. "When they start speaking, it will make things uncomfortable for many associated with the opposition parties," he said.
He also mentioned about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 2013 act wherein he ripped up the ordinance cleared by then Manmohan Singh Cabinet. He said, "Who brought 'remote control governance' through the NAC, which had a bigger role than the position of the PM and the PMO. The people of India are seeing what is happening in the nation, that too ironically, in the name of saving the Constitution."
PM Narendra Modi said that the 'Save Constitution' should be the mantra for Congress. Attacking Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, he said, "Who brought the Emergency? Who trampled over the Judiciary? Who has brought the most amendments to the Constitution? Who imposed Article 356 the most? Those who did the above need to get deeper knowledge of our Constitution."
PM Narendra Modi said that among the things that will drive India's progress is next-generation infrastructure. In the earlier days, infrastructure creation brought "economic opportunities" for a select few. Not any more. "We have made this sector transparent and are working to boost connectivity," he said. The PM said that the Congress government had decided to complete the Peripheral Expressway work by 2009. But it remained on papers till 2014. "We started the work in a mission mode," he said.
While taking dig at Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury inside the Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said, "Country's politics of last 70 yeats has been such that no Congress leader can be self-sufficient."
PM Narendra Modi also took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark that 'you will beat PM Modi with sticks in six months'. Without taking name of Rahul Gandhu, the PM said, "I heard an Opposition MP saying- we will beat Modi with sticks in 6 months. I have also decided- will do more Surya Namaskar. This will make my back even stronger to face abuses. In any case, I have been abused so much for the last 2 decades, their negativity hardly matters."
PM Narendra Modi informed that Stand up India and Mudra are adding prosperity in the lives of many. "Substantial number of the Mudra beneficiaries are women," he said. The PM said that his government is working on labour reforms and that too after consulting the labour unions.
PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha claimed that his government has kept the fiscal deficit in check. "Price rise is also under check and there is macro-economic stability," he said, adding that the government has taken many steps to increase the confidence of investors and strengthen the economy of the country. The PM added that his government's vision is greater investment, better infrastructure, increased value addition and maximum job creation.
PM Modi said that driven by politics, some states are not allowing farmers to benefit from PM-Kisan Scheme. "I appeal to them- let there be no politics in farmer welfare. We all have to work together for the prosperity of farmers," he said.
PM Modi said that the agriculture budget has risen five times during the BJP government's tenure. "PM-KISAN Samman Yojana is transforming the lives of many farmers. Several farmers have benefitted due to this. In this scheme there are no middlemen and no extra file-work," he said.
Prime Minister Naendra Modi said that President has talked about agriculture and farmer welfare extensively. "The issue of higher MSP was pending for decades. We had the honour of solving this long-standing demand. The same applies to crop insurance and irrigation related schemes," he said.
Referring to Bodo pact signed recently, PM Narendra Modi said that despite many efforts, the issue was unsolved for years. "The Bodo Accord signed now is special because it has brought all stakeholders together and we are moving towards a more peaceful era."
PM Modi said that the Congress governments ingonred the North East. He said, "For years, distance became a reason to ignore this region. Things have changed now. The Northeast is becoming a growth engine. Great work has been done in so many sectors. Ministers and officials are regularly visiting the region."
The Prime Minister noted it is due to the speed of this government that in the last five years, 37 crore people got bank accounts, 11 crore people got toilets in their homes, 13 crore people got gas connections, 2 crore people got their own homes.
PM Modi said that India can no longer wait for problems to remain unsolved. "That is why, our aim is: Speed and scale. Determination and decisiveness. Sensitivity and solutions. The people of India saw our work for five years. They once again blessed us, so that we work even faster."
Speaking on the floor of the Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said that the world today has many expectations from India. "It is essential that we show courage and work to overcome the challenges we are facing," he said.
PM Narendra Modi said that people of India have not only changed the Sarkar, they want the Sarokar to be changed as well. "If we had worked according to the old ways and thought processes, Article 370 would never have been history. Muslim women would have kept suffering due to Triple Talaq. Ram Janmabhoomi issue would have remained unsolved. Kartarpur Sahib corridor would not be a reality. There would be no India-Bangladesh land agreement," he said.
PM Narendra Modi thanked all MPs for participating inthe debate. "I thank MPs across party lines who have taken part in the debate," he said.
PM Narendra Modi said President has highlighted the vision for a New India. His address comes at a time when we enter the third decade of the century. "Rashtrapati Ji's address instills a spirit of hope and it presents a roadmap for taking the nation ahead in the times to come," he said.
As soon as PM Narendra Modi begun his address, members from the opposition benches raised sloagans lauding Mahatma Gandhi. "Bapu is our life," PM Modi replied.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is replying on the Motion of Thanks to the President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to the joint sitting of both the Houses.
SP's Vishambhar Prasad Nishad speaks about river water and irrigation. AK Selvaraj of AIADMK asks the Centre to take urgent measures to protect small farmers.
THe Lok Sabha is discussing the questions on Affordable Housing under PMAY. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri answers Asaduddin Owaisi’s question on how the government is planning to raise funds for creating pucca housing for the urban poor. "The govt has sanctioned Rs 1.03 crore. 32 lakh beneficiaries have already received their homes," he said.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya in Lok Sabha yesterday said, "What is happening today in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh is a stark reminder that if the majority of this country is not vigilant, the patriotic Indians do not stand up to this, the days of Mughal Raj coming back to Delhi are not far away."
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'alleged arrest of a parent of a student at a college in Bidar, Karnataka'.
Trinamool Congress MP Santunu Sen has given Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha over 'concerns over proposed changes in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)'.
BJP MP Mahesh Poddar has given Short Duration Discussion Notice in Rajya Sabha over 'separatist movement in Jharkhand and adjoining states'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply on Thursday in the Lok Sabha on Motion of thanks for President's Address.