New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the Opposition party of being unable to accept its repeated electoral defeats and harbouring deep resentment towards him.
Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said that slogans raised by the Opposition reflected frustration rather than political strength. Referring to chants such as “Modi teri kabr khudegi”, Modi remarked that despite their hostility, the Opposition would never succeed in undermining him.
“They can never dig my grave,” Modi said, asserting that the blessings of crores of mothers, sisters, and the poor of the country stood firmly with him.
Taking aim at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Prime Minister accused the Mamata Banerjee-led party of protecting “ghuspaithiyas” (infiltrators) in West Bengal, alleging that they were snatching jobs from youth and encroaching upon the rights and land of tribal communities.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of believing that the post of Prime Minister was the exclusive preserve of its “first family,” adding that the party found it difficult to accept that someone from a humble background had risen to the nation’s highest executive office.
Modi highlighted the achievements of his government over the past 11 years, stating that high economic growth combined with low inflation reflected the strength of India’s economy. He reiterated that India was on course to become the third-largest economy in the world.
Referring to the disruption in the Lok Sabha a day earlier that prevented him from replying to the debate, Modi expressed anguish over Congress MPs calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a traitor. Recalling Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, Modi said the comments amounted to an insult to the Sikh community and Sikh Gurus.
“The country will not tolerate a Sikh leader, whose family has made sacrifices for the nation, being labelled a traitor merely because he changed his political ideology,” Modi said, warning that such conduct would further weaken the Congress.
The Prime Minister described the Lok Sabha disruption as “extremely painful,” stating that blocking his reply was an insult to the President, the Constitution, women, tribals, Dalits, and the Northeast. He pointed out that the ruckus occurred while leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Assam were presiding over the House.
Drawing a contrast with the Congress, Modi said, “For the Congress, citizens are problems. For us, every citizen is a solution.”
