Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into the opposition in Parliament, blaming them for the spread of Covid in the country and fuelling migrant crisis during the initial phase and alleged that this was their “paap’’ (sin).
Launching a frontal no-holds barred attack on the opposition while replying to the marathon debate in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, Prime Minister Modi was at his best in displaying his oratorical skills. He said the opposition did not do anything positive but in the opposition-ruled governments in Maharashtra and Delhi, the labourers were pushed into difficulties.
“The Congress crossed the limit,” he said. “During the first wave, when we had lockdown, when WHO was advising that ‘stay wherever you are’… the Congress at the Mumbai railway station gave tickets to labours to go and spread coronavirus,” he said.
The BJP government was blamed for the migrant crisis by the opposition during the outbreak of the Corona pandemic. Sudden imposition of the lockdown had left the migrants to fend for themselves who travelled long distances to return to their homes.
He attacked the Congress for following divide and rule mentality and dubbed the party as the leader of the “Tukde, Tukde gang’’, saying the party was yet to shed its arrogance despite suffering electoral losses in a number of states.
PM Modi’s reply in the Lok Sabha is sure to provide fuel to the BJP leaders and stir the workers to use it in the ongoing poll campaign in assembly elections in U.P., Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.
Arguing that the opposition had neglected the government’s achievements, PM Modi told the Lok Sabha that during Covid, the Indian economy was the fastest growing in the world.
“Farmers produced record quantity foodgrains… Lot of countries faced food shortages. But this country didn’t let anyone die of hunger. India gave free ration to over 80 crore people and still giving,” he said.
Hitting out at the opposition, he said “some people thought Corona will ruin Modi’s image. Is this country not yours or the people? Aren’t their happiness sorrows yours as well?”
Picking on Congress, he cited example of several states who have rejected the grand old party for decades. “In 1988, the people of Nagaland voted for the Congress last. Odisha voted for you last in 1995 — it has been 27 years. In 1994, you won majority in Goa single-handedly, but Goa did not accept you since. In 1988, Tripura, 34 years ago, you got the mandate. In 1985, it was the turn of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. In West Bengal, they voted for you last in 1972,” he said.
PM Modi said there is a new world order post COVID-19 pandemic.“ We are being recognised as a leader. India must take the global leadership role. It’s a turning point and we should not lose this opportunity,’’ he said.
He asked the Congress why it was opposition government schemes like the Fit India movement. “Who is not proud of Yoga? You made fun of it as well. No wonder you were voted out in many states years ago… I think you have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years,’’ he.said.
Pointing at the Congress again, PM Modi cited the government’s flagship programme of “Make in India’’ which elicited participation of India’s youth and entrepreneurs. “Make in India’s success is giving you pain, I can understand. Make in India means commissions will end, corruption will end, filling coffers will end and that is why it gives them pain,’’ he said.
On inflation, he accused the Congress leaders of being insensitive and asserted that during 2014-2020, the inflation rate was below 5 per cent.
In a rare reference, he said that the country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru had said that the Korean war caused inflation and that any disturbance in America also caused inflation. “He also gave up on inflation. If Congress was in power today, they would have abandoned the responsibility and blamed the inflation on corona. But we are working with our full strength,’’ he said.