Prime Minister Modi has given several powerful speeches both inside and outside the Parliament during his tenure. In what could be his last speech in the Parliament prior to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi gave a succinct account of what the incumbent government has achieved in its tenure and also took digs at opponents and critics.
He took the opposition, particularly the Congress to the cleaners. At the outset, PM Modi made it clear that those who have looted the nation would continue to be scared of him. In a strong jibe at the Congress, Prime Minister Modi said that the party’s arrogance brought them down to 44 from 400 seats in the Parliament, and on the other hand BJP’s commitment and hard work helped it rise from 2 to 282 seats.
Giving an account of what the incumbent government has achieved throughout its tenure, PM Modi said that India will be friends with Israel and Palestine, as well as Saudi Arabia and Iran. Our (government’s) foreign policy has ensured that India’s voice becomes stronger at the world stage. He also pointed out that during the tenure of the present government, 100% rural electrification was reached and 10 crore toilets constructed. Apart from this, 99 agricultural schemes that were stuck are being completed now. PM Modi also highlighted how the government is working for the poorest of the poor in the country. He said that the government is working towards the good health and well-being of the people of the country. Prices of stents, knee surgeries and medicines are coming down. He added that India has witnessed remarkable progress in the last four years. Its progress has been outstanding in all spheres like investment, steel sector, startups, milk and agriculture, aviation.
One of the highlights of his fiery speech was the jibes that he took at the opposition’s much-touted mahagathbandhan. PM Modi expressed dismay at how the opposition has started hating the country out of its hatred for Prime Minister Modi. He labeled the mahagathbandhan as ‘mahamilawat’ and said that people have seen what a government with an absolute majority can do. In a dig at the opposition’s grand alliance, he said that people do not want a ‘mahamilawat’ government of those recently seen in Kolkata. Thus, he took on the opposition’s grand alliance in a very subtle manner. With his reference to the mahagathbandhan as ‘mahamilawat’, PM Modi said that the coalition is nothing but an unholy mixture of opportunistic political outfits coming together with the motive of somehow defeating the BJP. PM’s mahamilawat jibe has come in the backdrop of the rally which was hosted in Kolkata by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in what can be called opposition’s show of strength.
In a sharp attack on the grand old party, PM Modi said, “The Congress has become rotten now.” He added, “When I said Congress-mukt Bharat, I am merely fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s desire”. PM Modi has raised this point several times in the past too when speaking of a Congress-Mukt Bharat. He also said that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was always ahead of his time. He had once said that joining the Congress is like committing suicide.
Prime Minister Modi also came down hard at the Congress over the issue of Rafale controversy. “I want to say it on the floor of the Parliament that the Indian National Congress does not want our armed forces to be strong. They do not want our security apparatus to be strong. Which companies are they bidding for that they are acting so shamefully?” he said. The PM added, “I used to wonder why the Congress lied about the Rafale deal with such confidence. And then I realised, under the previous Congress governments defence deals had middlemen, the Congress gets frazzled when someone works with honesty.”
PM Modi has once again shown that he does not believe in mincing his words. The opposition must have been taken by surprise by his fiery speech. This has set the right narrative for the BJP, even as the poll campaign is set to intensify in the coming days.