Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media ahead of the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday. (AP image)
NEW DELHI: On a day when the Cockroach Janta Party-headed protest against govt over NEET-UG paper leak and myriad issues turned violent, PM Narendra Modi Monday said the Indian youth is full of aspirations and want the country to move forward and, in a message to opposition parties, called for using logic and facts to raise issues in Parliament instead of causing disruption.In his customary remarks to media before the start of Parliament’s monsoon session, he said the country has notched up several achievements in the past one month and brought up the debut success of a private space company — Skyroot — in launching a rocket into the orbit, noting that the average age of its team is only 28 years. “I am not speaking of a 56-year-old young man. I am talking about a start-up whose team, with an average age of just 28, has planted India’s flag in space,” Modi said in an apparent swipe at leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is 56. PM said the successful launch has given the message that capabilities and aspirations of India’s youth are as limitless as space itself. Reforms pursued by his govt have enabled the youth to take such bold steps, he added.Calling for a productive session, he said it is the need of the hour that Parliament give voice to people filled with patriotism. “…If logic and facts are strong, then one can calmly raise an issue in an emphatic manner.” “Be it the monsoon or the monsoon session, when both are proactive, they become highly productive. And when both are productive, they contribute to the well-being of the nation.” He spoke of the recent inaugurations of an oil refinery and the country’s third semiconductor plant besides the launch of a hydrogen-powered train as among the recent feats. He said the country has picked up speed, and Parliament’s spirit can infuse new energy into this momentum.Referring to the West Asia conflict, Modi said the war has posed a major crisis for countries like India which are dependent on others for energy. He said petrol, diesel, LPG, fertilisers, chemicals — all faced disruptions, yet, India continued to grow at 7.7%, remaining the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
