Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reached out to the opposition, saying he needs their support for “improvement” in his government, even as he attacked the Congress over disruptions in Parliament while skipping the raging issues such as JNU and Dalit student’s suicide.
Mr. Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha, used wit and barbs as he responded to the attack by Congress over various initiatives of his government, including ‘Make in India’ and MNREGA.
Slamming the Congress for disrupting Parliament and stalling bills, he said the main opposition party was doing so because of “inferiority complex” of its top leaders. He also invoked the statements made by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and first President Rajendra Prasad by reading out their statements against stalling of legislative business.
He deplored the tu tu, mai mai (blame game) attitude by political parties for “scoring points”, saying the officialdom rejoices over this and nation suffers.
“This government also needs improvement which cannot happen without your help. I am new, you are experienced. I need the benefit of your experience. Governments will come and go. Let us work shoulder to shoulder,” Modi said while replying to a debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address which was approved later.
He said a democratic country like India cannot be left at the mercy of the bureaucracy as he sought to underline the importance of the Legislature, saying even a single MP of any party should be treated like “Prime Minister.”
In his 75-minute speech, Mr. Modi, however, did not respond to the specific issues raised by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders, like his visit to Pakistan, blackmoney, JNU row and Dalit student Rohith Vemula’s suicide.
Modi responses to Rahul's criticism
Without naming Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister appeared to be responding to his Wednesday’s remark that he should listen to others.
“It is easy to preach others...There are some people to whom all kinds of questions are asked. But there are some others, to whom nobody dares to ask questions,” he said.
“I have been questioned, I have faced criticism and accusations over last 14 years. I have learnt to live with it,” said Modi, apparently referring to the attacks on him in the aftermath of Gujarat riots of 2002.
While hitting out at Mr. Gandhi for criticising his government, he sarcastically recalled how the Congress vice president had tore down at a press conference an Ordinance approved by the Cabinet headed by Manmohan Singh and including veterans like A K Antony, Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah.
He also took on Mr. Gandhi for mocking at the government’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ programme, questioning whether such a scheme should be made fun of. “You are mocking at ‘Make in India’? If it is not successful, you should suggest what should be done to make it successful,” he said.
Referring to disruptions in Parliament due to which several bills, including the crucial GST legislation is stuck, Modi said “House is not allowed to function due to inferiority complex (of the opposition leadership).”
While elaborating, he appeared to suggest that top Congress leadership was not allowing “young” and “bright” leaders to emerge fearing that they may overshadow Mr. Gandhi.
“In the opposition there are bright and talented youngsters who don’t get a chance to speak...They lot lot of study...The concern is that if they speak, they will be praised. Then what will happen to us,” Mr. Modi said.
