Do you want ‘old India’ of scams, PM asks Congress

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit back at Congress for mocking BJP’s “new India” ideas including the proposal of simultaneous elections (one nation, one election) and for “committing the sin of spreading pessimism” by objecting to every new initiative.
Taking a dig at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comment that he preferred a better “old India”, Modi said, “Now they are slamming New India. Do they want old India back? Old India where Cabinet decisions were torn in press meets, old India where Navy ships were used for personal trips, old India where numerous scams existed and old India which supported ‘tukde, tukde’ gang?”
Modi accused Congress of insulting the popular mandate because BJP won the polls. “After such a big mandate, you say BJP has won, but the country and democracy have lost. There cannot be any other bigger insult of Indian democracy and of Indian voters... I want to ask whether India lost in Wayanad? Did India lose in Rae Bareli, Behrampur or Thiruvanthapuram? Did India lose in Amethi? What is this argument? Do they feel Congress lost means India lost and Congress is country and country is Congress?” he asked.
Replying to the debate in Rajya Sabha on the President’s address, Modi also stoutly defended use of electronic voting machines and slammed the opposition, particularly Congress, for raising doubts over the machines and by implication questioning India’s democratic exercise. He said defeat needs to be faced squarely and not by offering excuses. “Haar gaye, to haar gaye (If you lose, you lose). You have to work to regain the confidence of the people,” he said, pointing out that BJP had been reduced to two seats in Lok Sabha in the past but did not blame polls being rigged and said while finding faults with EVMs, the main opposition chose to forget that its government’s have facilitated their use. “You brought a law to allow use of EVMs,” he said.
Modi’s sharp responses on “old India” were in response to Azad’s comments that “old India had no hatred, anger and lynchings”. He had urged the PM to return to “old India” where people of all religions lived in peace. Modi cited several examples to drive home the point that people are not ready to take India to old days when they had to stand in queues to book rail ticket, approach politicians to get gas connections and appear for interviews even for class-IV jobs.
“When you don’t have self confidence and you lack resources, then you start searching for an excuse. You don’t have the strength to accept the the mistakes and you are also not ready for introspection. By doing so you don’t encourage you political cadre,” the PM said. He said since EVMs have been introduced, those who used force and power to win election are losing in polls.
He said the party (Congress) which could not win a single seat in 17 states had no right to say that the the country lost and has hurt the voters and questioned their decision. “Those who lost, whose dreams have been shattered and arrogance have been hit, they can’t welcome the poll outcome. But I congratulate and thank the voters,” the PM said. He accused Congress of making unfair use of the government’s lack of numbers in Rajya Sabha. “We need to fold our hands before you on who will speak and also need to seek permission for going on a foreign trip,” he said in an obvious reference to the government negotiating with opposition leaders to ensure PM’s reply before he embarks on his trip to Japan.
In Video:Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Rajya Sabha