New Delhi: Addressing the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a no-holds-barred attack on Congress, targetting the party on several issues such as COVID pandemic, inflation, poverty, and more.


He said Britishers have gone but the party has made the "divide and rule" policy its character. "Divide and rule is in their DNA," PM Modi said hitting out at Congress in Lok Sabha.


Cornering the opposition, he added: "Today poor people of the country are getting a gas and connection, house and toilets. They have their own bank account. But unfortunately, some people's (opposition) minds are still stuck in 2014".


The remarks came as the Prime Minister replied to the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Lok Sabha in the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament.


Directly targetting Congress, PM Modi said: "Nagaland voted for Congress 24 years ago, Odisha voted for you 27 years ago. You won with a full majority in Goa 28 years ago. In 1988, Tripura voted for Congress. West Benga voted for Congress in 1972. You take credit for the creation of Telangana but the public did not accept you".


"After losing so many elections there is no change in your (Congress) 'Ahankaar' (ego)," he added.


PM Modi On Coronavirus Pandemic


Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there is a new world order after the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are being recognised as a leader. India must take the global leadership role," he stated.


Recalling the first wave of Coronavirus pandemic, PM Modi further hit out at the opposition-led state governments citing examples of Maharashtra and Delhi.


"During the first wave of COVID-19, you (Congress) gave free train tickets to migrant workers to leave Mumbai. At the same time, the Delhi government told migrant workers to leave the city and provided them with buses. As a result, COVID spread rapidly in Punjab, UP, and Uttarakhand," he said.


Talking about initiatives of the Union government such as Fit India Movement and Vocal for Local, the Prime Minister said: "If I talk about 'vocal for local' then you ignore it. Don't you want to create India 'Atamanirbhar'? You (Congress) don't want to fulfill the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi".


"You can oppose me, but why are you (Congress) opposing the Fit India Movement and other schemes? 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 added. 


PM Modi also jibed at Congress saying: "Now that you (Congress) have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years, then, 'Maine bhi tyaari kar li hai' (I am also ready)".


Speaking on the concerns of farmers in Lok Sabha, he asserted: "We need to strengthen our small farmers. Our focus is on them. But those who don't know the pain of small farmers don't have any right to do politics in the name of the farmers".


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PM Modi Targets Congress On Inflation, 'Garibi Hatao'


In Lok Sabha, PM Modi addressed the issue of inflation raised by the opposition saying: "It would've been better if they have raised that matter while their govt was in power. In the pandemic also our govt tried to tackle inflation. During 2014-2020 the inflation rate was below 5%".


"Congress party's P Chidambaram is writing articles on economy in the newspapers these days. In 2012, he said that the public is not troubled when they've to spend Rs 15 on a water bottle and Rs 20 on ice cream but the public can't tolerate when Re 1 increase in prices of wheat and rice," he mentioned.


Citing India's first prime minister, PM Modi recalled: "Pandit Nehru had said that the Korean war caused inflation. He had said that any disturbance in America also caused inflation. He also gave up on inflation".


He talked about the previous UPA government's 'Garibi Hatao' campaign as he said that Congress had won several elections due to their 'Garibi Hatao' slogan but failed to do that. Then poor of this country voted them out, he added.


Congress Attempted To Hurt Tamil Sentiments: PM Modi


Continuing to attack the principal opposition party, the Prime Minister said: "Congress policy is "divide and rule". Congress has become the leader of Tukde Tukde Gang".


He stated that Congress attempted to "hurt Tamil sentiments, it wants to divide and rule the country."


He cited puranas and renowned Tamil writer-activist Subramania Bharathi to elaborate on an all-encompassing concept of India where the entire nation is treated as a living soul.


Citing the incident of CDS General Bipin Rawat's chopper crash, PM Modi said: "I want to salute Tamil Nadu citizens who lined the streets for hours to pay tribute to CDS Gen Bipin Rawat as they said Veera Vanakkam, Veera Vanakkam.."


While PM Modi did not name Congress leader Gandhi during his address, he virtually took on all the criticism levelled by the Wayanad MP in his speech last week.



 


The Budget Session of the Parliament had commenced on January 31 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address. 


The first part of the budget session is being held from January 31 to February 11 and the second part will take place from March 14 to April 8.


Rahul Gandhi's Speech In Lok Sabha


Last week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke first from the Opposition side in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. He attacked the government alleging that two Indias, one for the rich and one for the poor, have been created and the gap between them was widening.


He even claimed that the country was at risk both internally and externally.

According to Rahul Gandhi, the President's speech to a joint sitting of Parliament didn't touch the central challenges facing the country and was a "list of bureaucratic ideas" instead of a strategic vision.

"There are now two distinct Indias, one India is for the extremely rich people - for those who have immense wealth, immense power, for those who don't need a job, those who don't need water connection, electricity connections, but for those who control the heartbeat of the country...the gap is widening between the two," the Wayanad MP had claimed.

Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of bringing back the idea of a "king of India" which was "smashed in 1947". He had targeted PM Narendra Modi saying that the "idea of a king is back".


President Ram Nath Kovind's Address


President Ram Nath Kovind had on January 31 addressed the Joint session of the Parliament and informed that the inflow of 48 billion dollars in investment in the first seven months of the current financial year was a testimony to the belief that the global investor community has in India's growth story.


He also talked about the increasing exports of the country, saying: "India's foreign exchange reserves today exceed 630 billion dollars. Our exports have also grown rapidly, breaking several past records. During April to December 2021, our goods-exports stood at 300 billion dollars or more than Rupees 22 lakh crore, which is one and a half times more than the corresponding period of 2020."


Notably, Rajya Sabha last week clocked 100 per cent productivity, with the Upper House making full use of the available time in the ongoing Budget session as there were no undue adjournments.


(With Agency Inputs)