New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, replied to the Motion of Thanks on President’s address, in the Parliament and said that had the government continued on old ways, the issues of Article 370, Ram Janmbhoomi and Triple Talaq would never have been solved. He also replied to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s controversial “dande marenge” diatribe and said that he will make his back stronger by practising more Surya Namaskar in six months.

Gandhi had said in a rally at Delhi, that the youth will hit Prime Minister Narendra Modi with sticks if he is unable to address the issue of unemployment in the country.

Replying to the comment, PM Modi said, “I heard a Congress leader say yesterday that youth will hit Modi with sticks in 6 months. I have decided that I will increase my frequency of 'Surya Namaskar' so that my back becomes so strong that it can bear the hit of so many sticks.”

After Rahul Gandhi made an intervention in his speech, PM took another jibe: “I was speaking for the last 30-40 minutes but it took this long for the current to reach there. Many tubelights are like this.”

“Adhir Ranjan does gymming while delivering speeches,” PM takes jibe

Taking a jibe at Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for his mannerisms while delivering speeches, PM Modi said “when I see and hear Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury ji, I congratulate Kiren Rijiju ji, Adhir ji promotes the 'Fit India Movement' launched by Rijiju ji very well. He also does gymming while delivering his speeches.”

Price rise in check:

Speaking about country’s economy PM Modi said: “We have kept the fiscal deficit in check. Price rise is also under check and there is macro-economic stability. Investor confidence should increase, the country's economy should be strengthened, for this we have also taken several steps.”

Other highlights of PM Modi’s speech:

  • Much has been said about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), ironically by those who love getting photographed with the group of people who want ‘Tukde Tukde’ of India, PM said slamming the Congress party.

  • Slamming the controversial remarks made by Jammu and Kashmir leaders Mehbooba Mufti, Omar and Farooq Abdullah on abrogation of Article 370, PM Modi said: “Kashmir's identity was buried on Jan 19, 1990," while referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir.”

  • Attacking Congress over its “save Constitution” campaign, PM said “Congress did not remember to save Constitution during Emergency. Save Constitution mantra is a must for those who dismissed several state governments.”

  • Speaking on Bodo pact, PM Modi said whatever was done earlier was for meeting political ends, remained confined to papers.

  • PM Modi also said that the NDA government at the centre aims at speed and scale; determination and decisiveness; sensitivity and solutions.

  • People have seen our speed of work and gave us bigger mandate in 2019, PM said.

  • PM said “had we continued with the Opposition’s path, we would have continued to wait for next-gen fighter plane, CDS, Ram Janmabhoomi would continue to be a disputed issue, Article 370 would not have been abrogated, Triple Talaq would not have gone.”

  • Amid opposition sloganeering, he said, “Mahatma Gandhi may be trailer for you, but he is life for us.”