Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful and pointed response during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, directing a sharp critique toward the Congress party. In his comprehensive address, the Prime Minister highlighted significant infrastructure projects that languished for decades under previous administrations but were successfully completed during his tenure.
Contrasting Approaches to Governance and Implementation
PM Modi emphasized a fundamental philosophical divide between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and the Congress. He asserted that while the BJP-NDA focuses on empowering citizens and finding solutions, the Congress has historically viewed the populace as obstacles. "We believe that 140 crore citizens are capable enough to tackle challenges. We trust the citizens and their capability. This is the true strength of democracy," Modi stated, contrasting this with his characterization of Congress's outlook.
Specific Examples of Delayed Projects
The Prime Minister provided concrete examples to support his argument. He referenced the Sardar Sarovar project on the Narmada River, noting its long and troubled history. "Sardar Patel envisioned it, Nehru laid the foundation stone, and I inaugurated it decades later. This is the state of Congress – they imagine but cannot implement," Modi declared, underscoring what he described as a pattern of unfulfilled promises.
Another case highlighted was the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam. This crucial infrastructure project, delayed for years, was finally completed under the Pragati initiative, significantly benefiting connectivity in the Northeast region. Modi presented these completions as evidence of his government's commitment to execution and development.
Historical Criticism of Nehru and Indira Gandhi
In a particularly pointed segment of his speech, Prime Minister Modi targeted former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He recounted an anecdote from Indira Gandhi's visit to Iran, where she reportedly quoted her father describing India's population as a "problem."
"I would like to speak about the mindset of Nehru ji and Indira ji for the people of the country," Modi said. "Indira ji once mentioned in a speech abroad that when asked how many problems he had, my father once replied '350 million', which was our population at that time. Now the population is 570 million, so that is the dimension of my problems.'"
Modi expressed dismay at this perspective, questioning, "35 crore people felt like a problem to Nehru ji. Can there be a leader like that? Father felt 35 crore to be a problem and the daughter felt 57 crore to be a problem. Can someone be like this to consider their own citizens a problem?"
Parliamentary Proceedings and Opposition Walkout
The Rajya Sabha session witnessed dramatic moments as Opposition MPs raised slogans and demanded that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak before the Prime Minister's reply. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan did not accede to this request, prompting protests and eventual walkout by the Opposition members.
This parliamentary confrontation underscored the tense political atmosphere as Modi delivered his critique. The Prime Minister continued his address despite the disruptions, firmly presenting his government's achievements and philosophical stance.
Through his detailed speech, PM Modi sought to draw a clear distinction between what he portrayed as the Congress's legacy of viewing citizens as burdens and his government's approach of seeing them as the nation's greatest strength and partners in progress.
