Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the first day of the Monsoon session of Lok Sabha, at the Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. (PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started speaking on the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion in Parliament. Earlier in the day, Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s surprise gesture to hug PM Modi in the Lok Sabha after his speech had created a buzz. Rahul Gandhi had attacked the Modi-led NDA government on a number of issues including unemployment, note-ban, GST, atrocities against the minorities and the rise in farmer deaths.
Lok Sabha is currently debating a no-confidence motion against the NDA government. Today’s no-confidence motion, the 27th in Parliamentary history, is the first to be admitted in 15 years. The last was in 2003 when the Congress party moved a no-confidence motion against prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
No Trust vote on the no-confidence motion moved by the Congress will be held shortly in the Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister in a point by point rebuttal to his opposition attacked Congress and other parties. Modi blamed Congress for the Partition of 1947 and said that Congress divided India and Pakistan, and we are still suffering. Modi has now ended his speech in the Lok Sabha of the Parliament.
India is seeing the record pace at which roads are being built, villages are being connected, i-ways are being built, railways development is happening: PM Modi
This Government stands with the Muslim women in their quest for justice. Any instance of violence brings shame to the nation. I will once again urge the state governments to punish those who indulge in violence: PM Modi
I want to tell you about the NPA problem. Much before Internet Banking, Congress Party invented Phone Banking and this caused the NPA mess. A phone call would get loans for their cronies and the nation suffered: PM Modi
When TDP was leaving NDA, I called up Chandrababu Naidu, warned him that you are falling into YSR Congress's trap: PM Modi
Speaking further on AP special status, PM says, "I want to tell the people of Andhra Pradesh that we will keep working for them. We will do everything possible for the development of Andhra Pradesh."
Commenting on the special category status for Andhra Pradesh debate, PM Modi says, "NDA Government is committed towards the development of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana."
Atal Bihari Ji created 3 states, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, it was done peacefully, and the states are prospering. While the Congress divided Andhra Pradesh and their conduct then was shameful: PM Modi
Continuing the attack on Congress, PM Modi said, " I read a statement, 'who says we do not have the numbers.' See her arrogance. I was reminded about 1999 the she stood outside Rashtrapati Bhavan and said- we have 272 and more are joining us. She destabilised Atal Ji's Government and never formed one herself."
You called the surgical strike a Jumla Strike. You can abuse me as much as you want. Stop insulting the Jawans of India. I will not tolerate this insult to our armed forces: PM Modi
Launching a scathing attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi says, "Due to one careless allegation in the House on Rafale, both nations had to release statements. My appeal to the Congress is please do not bring politics in national security."
One of the leaders spoke about Doklam. The same leader, who believed the Chinese Ambassador over our forces. What have we come to? Everything does not merit a childish conduct: PM Modi
Commenting on corruption, the prime minister says, "the fight against black money is going to continue." He adds, "I know I have made many enemies due to this but it is fine."
The prime minister also said that the economy is strengthened and India is also contributing towards strengthening the global economy.
Attacking the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the party has no faith in the ECI, Judiciary, in the RBI, in the International Agencies. They have confidence in nothing.
Our Government has opened bank accounts for the poor. Earlier, the doors of the banks never opened for the poor. Women are leading a smoke-free life due to Ujjwala Yojana.Toilets have been constructed across India at a record pace: PM Modi
Amidst slogans by the opposition members, PM continues speaking. He highlights the work done by the NDA government. The PM says, "Our government has the honour of working towards the electrification of 18,000 villages that were in the dark for 70 years. Most of these villages were situated in Eastern India and the Northeast."
The Prime Minister says, "We are here because we have the blessings of 125 crore Indians. We are not here for selfish interests. We have served the nation with the Mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."
Continuing the attack on the opposition, the prime minister says, " In the morning, the voting was not over, the debate was also not over one member comes running to me saying, 'Utho Utho Utho...' What is his hurry to come to power? Let me tell this member it is the people who elected us. That is how we have come here."
PM targets the opposition, says "If you were not prepared for the debate why did you bring the motion? Why were you trying to delay the motion?"
He further said, "What we saw among members of the Opposition was sheer arrogance. The only thing they have to say remove Modi."
Today the nation has seen the negativity expressed by some members. India saw how some people are so deeply opposed to development: PM Modi
I urge all parties to reject the motion that has been moved in the House, says PM Modi
The Prime Minister has begun his speech in the Lok Sabha.
The jury is out but Rahul Gandhi has managed to hog the headlines and set the narrative, at least through the day as Lok Sabha continued debating the no-confidence motion. Read More
Speaking in the Parliament earlier today, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the prime minister and termed the promises made by him as 'jhumla'. The Congress president said, "You said every person will get Rs 15 lakh – this is jhumla No 1. You said two crore youth will gets jobs every year, this is jhumla No 2. In 2016-17, all over the country, four lakh people have got jobs according to the labour survey. The Indian youth had faith in the PM as in every speech of his he said he will give 2 crore jobs to the youth."