Prime Minister Narendra Modi,replying in the Rajya Sabha to a Motion of Thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's speech to ajoint session of Parliament, defended his government's amended Land Acquisition Bill (Ordinance) by saying that land had to be acquired to give a boost to national economic activity.
In a strong defence of the amended BIll, Modi said, "The law will stay; we will remove the shortcomings. I urge you to help us, and together, we can take India's development ahead. We need to protect farmers' interests together. Please don't spread lies on compensation. Compensation has not been reduced in the amended Bill.
We need to carry on with economic activity, to set up industries etc. Under current law, it is difficult to acquire law."
On the the issue of black money, he said, "We are committed to bringing back black money. If the SIT on black money had been set up during the UPA regime, illegal transactions would have stopped by now. The SIT was not set up then in order to protect some people."
We are giving importance to a Digital India and mobile governance. If we have to create jobs, we will have to promote the idea of Make in India. We will have to focus on infrastructure development," the Prime MInister said.
"Whatever we are doing, let us take it to the ground and take it to the people. Our efforts are in that direction. We should work towards changing lives of the downtrodden.During UPA rule, only 6.5 percent people got 100 days' of work. Development can happen through 'Neeti' and 'Reeti'. When you stay connected to the ground, you realise what is happening on the ground," Prime MInister Modi said.
"Railways and Highways, they are both under the government, but one did not approve project of the other. We have changed that. So far, 660 villages have been adopted under the Adarsh Gram Yojna. We have so far cleared 350 projects. Any new project proposal will be cleared within 60 days. We have ushered in good governance," he satted further.
Criticising the performance of the UPA regime, Modi said that it should first look into the mirror before accusing his government of mismanaging policy.
"In 2004, UPA had removed the cabinet secretary soon after taking over. They had also removed the foreign secretary and the defence secretary. We have not insulted bureaucrats and officers like you did. You even removed and humiliated governors when you came to power," Modi said.
"This government is working for all sections of society. I am new in this House. Please protect me,," Prime Minister Modi urged the Chairman of the House, Hamid Ansari. The House burst into laughter at this remark.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati intervened, and said, "We are looking after the poor but in the private sector there is no reservations for people from the SC/ST. I want to ask the Prime Minister, are you going to ensure reservations for the SC/ST in the private sector to improve their cause?"
Prime Minister Modi said, "These schemes belong neither to this government not to that government. These belong to the poor people."
"I had said from the Red Fort that every government, every Prime Minister, every state has helped in taking in India forward. We do not feel that just because we are in the treasury benches, we know it all. Everyone has to work together," he said.
"In a democracy, nobody's threats have ever worked, nor will they ever do. This nation did not bend during the Emergency also. More than the party we belong to, it is about the state that we represent in this House, Prime Minister Modi said in the Rajya Sabha.
