Congress instigated migrants to breach COVID lockdown, remains arrogant despite losing polls: PM in LS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress saying that the Opposition party‘s statements and actions suggest it has resigned itself to staying out of power for 100 years. Replying to the debate on the President’s address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Modi targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his ‘union of states’ remark in the lower house last week, and said the party was following the “divide and rule policy” of the British.

“In this House, Tamil sentiments are being provoked. Divide and rule is the Congress’s intention like the British. The Congress has become the leader of ‘tukde tukde gang’,” Modi said.

“We are firm believers in democracy. And we also believe that criticism is an essential part of democracy. But, blind opposition to everything is never the way ahead. Despite being in power for so long, the people of this country is now snubbing them for good. Your ego remains despite suffering back-to-back electoral losses over the years. The way you behave, it seems you are not coming to power for 100 years,” Modi said while replying to the debate on the president’s address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Modi accused the Congress and the AAP of instigating people of the country to break the lockdown during the first COVID-19 wave.

“During the first wave, when people were following lockdown guidelines suggesting that they stay where they are, the Congress was standing at Mumbai station and scaring innocent people,” he said.

“The Delhi government went to slums and told migrants to go home amid the pandemic. It resulted in the spread of COVID-19,” the prime minister said.

The PM said the way India handled pandemic is an example for the world. “The ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is the perfect time to think about how India can play a global leadership role in the coming years Post COVID-19 pandemic, the world is moving fast towards a new world order and India should not miss this opportunity,” he said.

Modi also said that the world has taken note of India’s economic strides and that too in the middle of a once in a lifetime global pandemic.

“The Government of India ensured that over 80 crore fellow Indians get access to free ration in the midst of the pandemic. It is our commitment that no Indian has to remain hungry,” he added.

Modi also invoked Nehru and said the Congress shrugged off the responsibility of the economy. “Had the Congress been in power today, they would have blamed inflation on the pandemic. But our government is working with all its might to resolve the issue,” he said.

“The Congress couldn’t remove ‘gareebi’ (poverty) for 40 years but the ‘gareeb’ (poor) removed the Congress. The nation is not a system of power or government. For us, the nation is a living soul,” the PM added.

The PM lashed out at the Congress party for criticising vocal for local.

“If we are talking about being vocal for local, are we not fulfilling the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi? Then, why was it being mocked by the Opposition? We talked about Yoga and Fit India but that was mocked by the Opposition too,” he said.

Modi also accused the Opposition of creating hurdles in the path of development of India’s small farmers.

“I wonder why you hate our small farmers,” he said.

“PM Gati Shakti presents a holistic approach to solve our infrastructure challenges. Our emphasis is on proper connectivity. Work is under way to build new roads, highways, railway lines, airports, etc. Modern infrastructure is India’s need and we are working in that direction,” Modi added.

Quoting the SBI study, Modi said that 13.5 lakh MSMEs and 1.5 crore jobs were saved as our government changed the definition of MSMEs.

“We do not believe only governments can solve all problems. We believe in the people of the nation, the youth of the nation. Take the startup sector for example. The number of start-ups have risen and this shows the strength of our people,” the PM said in Lok Sabha.

“The Opposition kept making fun of Make in India. But the country and its youth proved them wrong and the joke is now on the Opposition,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)