Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sharp dig at the decades-old ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan, questioning its effectiveness while highlighting that 25 crore Indians have successfully risen out of poverty during the BJP’s reign at the centre. “We did not give false slogans of Garibi Hatao, but true development to people,” he added.
In his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, he said that the President’s address will pave the way for ‘Viksit Bharat’. “I am very fortunate that the people of the country have allowed me for the 14th time to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. So, I respectfully express gratitude to the people,” he added.
Taking a veiled dig at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said that “those who walk with the Constitution in their pockets” had “compelled” Muslim women to live a life full of troubles. “By ending instant triple talaq, we have given Muslim women their rights,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said that some had made it “fashion” to talk about Caste. “For the last 30-35 years, MPs from across parties were demanding constitutional status for the OBC Commission. Those who talk about it now did not remember it then, but we gave constitutional status to the OBC Commission,” Modi added.
PM Modi remarked that those who engage in photo sessions in the huts of the poor for entertainment may find discussions on the poor in Parliament boring. This comes as Rahul Gandhi had termed the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament as “boring” on January 31.
In a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi accused some political leaders of speaking the language of Urban Naxals and advocating for war against the Indian state. Without naming Gandhi directly, Modi asserted that such leaders fail to understand the Constitution and misuse their platform to spread divisive narratives.
Taking an indirect swipe at Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, the Prime Minister remarked, “Some focus on installing jacuzzis and stylish showers, but our focus is on ensuring clean drinking water for every home.” He noted that even after 75 years of independence, 16 crore households lacked tap water connections, but under his government, 12 crore families have now received access to piped water.