Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last speech to the Lok Sabha, ahead of the general elections, made a strong pitch for a majority government at the Centre, stating that a full majority government in the last five years had enhanced the status of the country globally.
Faced with an opposition grouping, the Prime Minister Modi’s statement is part of the BJP’s move to project a “decisive leadership” against an agglomeration of ideologically diverse opposition parties.
“India today is moving ahead with self-confidence, something that is vital in nation building. It is after three decades that India has given a full mandate and that has raised the status of the country in the world arena. For this we have the people of the country to thank,” Mr. Modi said. He said India had suffered globally for long due to fractured mandates. But it was now being taken seriously in the global arena because of the majority government, he added.
He said India had suffered globally for long due to fractured mandates. But it was now being taken seriously in the global arena because of the majority government, he added.
'First time as MP'
Mr. Modi also looked back on his tenure in Parliament, which he entered for the first time as MP and Prime Minister. “As a new Member of Parliament I learnt many new things including the difference between a genuine and a forced hug,” he said in an apparent reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s impromptu hug given to Prime Minister Modi during the no-confidence motion moved against his government last year.
He pointed out that while there had been 13 Prime Ministers in India so far, his seat had a plaque naming only three. “Liberals should think as to why that is?” he said.
Mr. Modi also asked for pardon with the Jain religious invocation “Micchami Dukkadam” for any hurts he may have caused.
He praised Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s leadership and said eight of 17 sessions of this Lok Sabha had over 100% productivity. The overall productivity was recorded at over 85%.
He pointed to the fact that not only did the 16th Lok Sabha have more women MPs than ever, the presiding officer was also a woman as were two out of the four Ministers in the Cabinet Committee on Security in his government.
Pot shots at Rahul
While taking pot shots at Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Modi praised Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, stating he admired the latter’s commitment to Parliament in sitting through hours of proceedings. “I also derive some ideas from Mr. Kharge’s speeches,” he said.
The 16th Lok Sabha passed 203 bills out of 219 introduced, including one on curbing black money. “We also passed the historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill and launched it at midnight with no thought of taking credit, by inviting all who contributed to its passing and by the hands of then president and former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee,” he said.
While taking pot shots at Mr Gandhi, Mr. Modi praised Leader of the Congress Legislative Party in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that he admired the latter’s commitment to Parliament in sitting through long hours of proceedings. He compared it to senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s commitment to Parliament. “I also derive some ideas from Mr. Kharge’s speeches,” he said.
There were several lighter notes in Mr. Modi’s speech, including a “thank you” to Samajwadi Party party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav who had, despite his party being in an anti-BJP alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh, had expressed a hope that Mr Modi would be elected again as Prime Minister.
“I have many things left to do, and I have Mulayam Singhji’s blessings to come back,” he said as the House rang with laughter. He also made a special mention of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Sivaprasad, who has gained fame for his various costume changes in Parliament during the TDP’s long running protest for Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh.
As he wound up his last speech on the last day of the 16th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi appeared to be girding for the contest ahead.
