NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his much-anticipated speech in Rajya Sabha amid sloganeering and walkout by the opposition. From targeting the “decades” of Congress regime to accusing the opposition of “protecting the infiltrators”, the prime minister said that a significant part of the NDA regime, which has been in power for over a decade now, has gone in “correcting the mistakes of the past”.The prime minister started his speech amid loud sloganeering of “Let the LoP speak” and “tanashashi nahi chalegi (dictatorship will not be tolerated) by the opposition MPs. PM Modi taunted the leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, suggesting that he should consider “sitting” and raising slogans, given his age. The opposition staged a walkout shortly after the speech began.”Looking at the age of Kharge ji, I urge you, the Chairman, to let him sit and sloganeer so that he faces no discomfort. There are young people at the back. So, please permit Kharge ji to sloganeer even while sitting,” he said. His speech comes a day after his reply to the motion of thanks address was cancelled in Lok Sabha amid protests by the opposition inside the House.
Top quotes from the speech:
- A significant part of our energy is being spent on correcting the mistakes of the past. It takes great effort to erase the image that was created in the minds of the world during that period, they left things in such a damaged state. That is why we have placed strong emphasis on future-ready policies. Today, the country is being governed on the basis of policy and strategy. Global trust in India is growing. Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ we have moved forward, and the reality today is that the nation has boarded the Reform Express.
- This Congress party has also betrayed farmers. Our country has around 10 crore farmers who own less than two hectares of land. Congress never cared for them, but we felt their pain; therefore, we introduced the PM Kisan Yojana.
- Colleagues from TMC said a lot of things. But they should look within themselves. A cruel government is making new records in all the parameters of downfall. But they are lecturing us here…Future of the people there is plunging into darkness but they (State Govt) do not care. They have no aspirations besides being in power. They are lecturing here. Prosperous nations of the world are driving out illegal residents from their country. But in our country, pressure is being put on the courts. How can the youth of our nation forgive such people who are using everything possible to advocate for the infiltrators?
- I heard the discussion, I felt that the level of discussion should have been a little higher, especially from that side (Opposition side). They have been part of the government for years. The level of discussion from that side should have been a little higher. But they lost even this opportunity
- Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India. Be it the trade deal of the European Union or the recent deal with the US. The entire world is openly praising these trade deals. When we signed the trade deal with the EU, the world became more confident about the greater likelihood of global stability. After the trade deal with the US, the world became even more confident that with stability, they can sense a speed too. This is a positive sign for the world.
- Today, India is a trusted partner of several nations and we are playing our role towards welfare of the world. Today, the entire world speaks of Global South but as the main character of that discussion, today India has emerged as a strong voice of Global South on global platforms.
- India is signing future-ready trade deals with several countries. In the past few days, we signed trade deals with 9 big and important countries of the world. Mother of all deals with 27 countries, with European Union is one of them.
- The first quarter of the 21st century has completed. But this second quarter is decisive just like the second quarter of India’s freedom struggle in the last century was. I can clearly see that in the direction of building Viksit Bharat, this second quarter is going to be equally capable.
