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ED has done what voters couldn't; united the Opposition, says PM Modi

She guided millions of Indians; her presence as the head of the republic is historic and inspiring, said PM Modi in his reply to the motion of thanks on the President's address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament during the budget session (Photo: PTI)
BS Web Team New Delhi
4 min read Last Updated : Feb 08 2023 | 6:37 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday replied to the motion of thanks on the President's Address to Parliament. In his speech, the prime minister responded to the allegations of Opposition parties, including the Congress. 

Beginning his speech, PM Modi thanked the President of India and said that she guided us and the country's people in her visionary speech. "In her visionary address, the President guided millions of Indians and us. Her presence as the head of the republic is historic and inspiring for the country's daughters and sisters," he said in the Lok Sabha.

"President said that there was a time when India was dependent on the world for its own problems, today that same nation is helping the world in the time of crisis," the Prime Minister told the Parliament. "The country is getting freedom from policy paralysis, corruption and big scams," he said.

He slammed the Opposition for insulting the President of India and said that some leaders displayed hatred against the Scheduled Tribes. He said, "When President's address was going on, some people avoided it. A tall leader even insulted the President. They displayed hatred against ST. When such things were said on TV, a sense of hatred deep within came out. An attempt was made to save oneself after writing a letter later."

PM Modi further slammed the Opposition and said that those pained by India's progress must introspect. 

Hailing the "Digital India" initiative, PM Modi said, "India's digital infrastructure has made some rapid strides. The world has taken notice of Digital India. There was a time, our country used to struggle even for the most basic technologies."

Talking about India's Covid response, the PM said, "This government does not believe in reform out of compulsion but reform out of conviction. India oversaw the world's largest vaccination drive. India gave free vaccines to its citizens. India gave free vaccines and medicines to more than 150+ nations. Many countries around the world are thankful to India."

He further spoke about India's progress and said the nation should be proud of its G20 presidency. He said, "Today, every global organisation sees hope in India. Our country now stands for a brighter future and new possibilities. Today India has stability, a stable government." 

Highlighting the country's other accomplishments, PM Modi said, India is world's second largest in mobile manufacturing. He said, "We are third in the world in terms of air traffic and energy consumption. We are fourth globally in renewable energy consumption. The world is looking at India with hopes."

"Several countries are suffering from instability due to war. Several others are facing inflation, unemployment, and lack of food security including our neighbours. Amid difficult times, India became the fifth-largest economy," PM Modi pointed out.

He added, "India is emerging as a manufacturing hub. The world sees its prosperity in India's growth but some people don't want to accept it. The country is moving ahead at full strength, with massive transformation through technology taking place."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the UPA-II regime and termed Congress's rule a decade of corruption and terror. He said that while the world was busy enhancing its technology, the UPA-II were busy with scams like 2G. There were two-three decades of instability; now there is political stability in country, a decisive government is in place, he said.

PM Modi said that the 10 years of UPA government between 2004 to 2014 saw most cases of corruption in the history of Independent India. That decade also saw terrorist forces rear their heads. The prime minister said that India lost its global standing in those 10 years. "That decade will be known as the lost decade," he said.

Not just Harvard, all big universities of the world will conduct studies on Congress's downfall, said PM Modi in Lok Sabha, adding that Enforcement Directorate has brought all Opposition parties together on one platform, it has done what electorate could not do.

Topics :Budget sessionNarendra Modi speechParliamentIndia Prime MinisterBudget 2023Union BudgetNarendra ModiRahul GandhiIndian National CongressBJPBharatiya Janata PartyBS Web Reports