Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Opposition Congress in his Rajya Sabha address, stating that the people rejected its agenda by voting for his performance.
"We feel proud of the wisdom and intelligence of the people of this country, in these elections. They defeated propaganda. They prioritised performance. They rejected the politics of deceit and put stamp of victory on the politics of trust," the Prime Minister said while replying to the debate on a motion thanking the President for her address to the joint sitting of the Parliament.
He also took a swipe at the Congress for its '1/3 jibe'. "I would like to extend hearty gratitude to a few colleagues in Congress. Ever since the results came, I was taking note of a colleague - who was not supported by his party but he held his party's flag all alone. For what he said, unke muh mein ghee shakkar. Why am I saying this? He repeatedly said "1/3rd government". What can be a bigger truth than this? We have completed 10 years now and there are 20 more to go. So, we have completed 1/3rd, 2/3rd remains. So, 'unke muh mein ghee shakkar' for his prophecy," Modi said.
The Prime Minister added that the third term for the BJP-led NDA is for making India a developed and self-reliant nation. "The next five years are to ensure saturation of basic facilities and for the fight against poverty. This country will emerge victorious against poverty in the next five years, and I am saying this based on the experience of the past 10 years. When India will become the third largest economy in the world, its impact will be on every sphere of life," Modi said.
Modi said that for his party BJP, the Constitution is not just a compilation of articles but its spirit and words are very important too. "It acts like a lighthouse for governments," he said, adding that Constitution Day will disseminate the spirit of the Constitution in the country.
"This opportunity given to us for the third time by the people of the country is to realise 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'," says Modi in Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, the opposition raised slogans of 'LoP ko bolne do' as PM Narendra Modi spoke, after LoP Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to intervene during Modi's reply.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, however, did not heed to his requests, leading to INDIA block MPs, raising slogans and asking for the LoP to be allowed to speak. Modi continued his speech amid the slogan-shouting.
Despite Kharge repeatedly pleading to be allowed to speak, Dhankhar did not give the permission after which the INDIA bloc MPs staged a walkout of the House.
Dhankhar condemned their act of walkout, saying this was an insult to the Constitution. Modi too decried the walkout and said he is not trying to score points but is duty-bound to give an account of his government's performance.
