New Delhi: It is beyond the Congress’s grasp how 140 crore Indians trust him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Parliament Wednesday, while completely ignoring the party’s demand for a response on the embattled Adani Group.
Opposition parties have united in both Houses this session, clamouring for a probe into charges of financial malfeasance against the company brought by American short-seller Hindenburg Research.
Modi said instead that crores of beneficiaries of central government schemes would never believe the false allegations and abuses against him. “140 crore people of India are Narendra Modi’s safety armour,” the Prime Minister said.
In a blistering attack on the Opposition, Modi dismissed the Congress-led UPA’s rule from 2004 to 2014 as “a lost decade” and a period of scams and violence, while 2020 to 2030 was the “India’s decade”, he said.
“A few people, drowning in frustration, are unable to accept the country’s progress. They don’t see the achievements of the people of the country. It is the result of efforts of 140 crore people due to which India is making a name. They don’t see these achievements,” Modi added.
Amid the occasional sloganeering by Opposition parties calling for a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani allegations, Modi said those pained by India’s progress must introspect.
“During the 10 years of the UPA government, inflation was in double digits and hence when something good happens, their sadness increases. In the history of the country’s Independence, 2004 to 2014 was full of scams. Terror attacks took place across the country in those 10 years,” the PM said.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi for his absence during the initial part of his address, Modi said, “I was watching yesterday how after one speech, the entire ecosystem was buzzing and jumping. Some people were very excited and probably slept very well. Probably, that is why they could not get up today.” BJP MPs erupted in laughter at this reference to Gandhi’s impassioned speech on Tuesday.
Modi’s speech largely focussed on the government’s achievements, especially on vaccine manufacturing, digital infrastructure, policies and schemes and its global image. The Prime Minister also said India had got the opportunity to host G20, which was a matter of pride, “but that is probably causing hurt to some people,” he added.
Also read: Under attack over Adani crisis, Modi dismisses Congress rule from 2004-2014 as a ‘lost decade’
UPA turned opportunities into crisis
Highlighting his government’s work, Modi said: “More than three crore people have got free houses, nine crore people have got free gas connection, 11 crore women got toilets, eight crore families have got ‘nal se jal’. Two crore families have benefitted through Ayushmann Bharat… how will they trust your lies and abuses?”
He also said Opposition leaders should thank the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for uniting them.
Modi brutalised the UPA regimes, saying the coalition’s trademark was to turn every opportunity into a crisis.
“Instead of constructive criticism, the Opposition is busy accusing the election body and EVMs for electoral losses. The Supreme Court is criticised after losing cases. Agencies are accused and abused for investigating corruption and the defence forces are accused for showing valour,” he added.
Attack on Rahul Gandhi
Indirectly attacking Rahul Gandhi for his “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, the PM said those who have recently visited Jammu and Kashmir can also see how proudly they can roam around.
“When I went on a pilgrimage to Kashmir in the last century, terrorists had put up posters saying, ‘Who has drunk his mother’s milk to hoist the tricolor at Lal Chowk’. I announced I would put up the tricolour on 26 January that year, and that I would go without security and a bullet-proof jacket,” the PM added.
Modi said he looked forward to criticism but had only received accusations and abuses in the last nine years.
During the speech, members of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Left parties and some members of the Congress walked out of the Lok Sabha in protest.
‘Lost decade’
He said during Covid, the “Congress had said there would be a study in Harvard on the destruction of India”. “A very good study has been done by Harvard in the past years, its topic is ‘The Rise and Decline of India’s Congress Party’”, the PM said.
Talking about corruption during the UPA era, Modi said the previous government was embroiled in the 2G scam when information and technology was evolving; and during the civil nuclear deal, they were busy with cash-for-vote. “In 2010 too, when the Commonwealth Games were organised, we had an opportunity to present India’s strength, but a bigger scam came to the fore and brought disrepute to the country globally,” Modi added.
Continuing his attack on the Opposition, Modi said those who are arrogant think they will find a way by abusing him, by making false allegations. “The country’s faith in Modi has not come from the newspaper headlines and the glowing faces on TV,” he added.
Also read: Poetry, storytelling & Harvard study — how Modi laid into Congress, Rahul Gandhi in LS speech