Returning the fire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today invoked Mahabharata epic to remind Congress that days of "Kauravas and Pandavas" were over and that his government wanted to move forward taking everyone along.
Modi's remarks came a day after Congress cautioned BJP against becoming arrogant saying that even though Kauravas were large in numbers, Pandavas emerged victorious.
Referring to the epic, the Prime Minister said that even though Duryodhana knew dharma, he always admitted that "it was not in his DNA" to act accordingly.
In his hour-long reply to the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Modi emphasised that his government would focus on co-operative federalism.
Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Modi also said the time of Mahabharata is over. "There are no Kauravas or Pandavas (now)," he remarked.
The Prime Minister's mention of the epic to drive home the government's point of view elicited smiles and thumping of desks by the ruling members.
"We don't want to move forward without your co-operation ... We want to move in a collective manner," Modi said.
The Prime Minister returned the fire a day after Congress said his government was just repackaging the work done by the UPA.
"Victory teaches us a lot of lessons. It teaches us humility... It is my earnest hope that we will get the power to fight arrogance," Modi said.
Members of the Treasury benches thumped their desks many times during Modi's speech that touched upon various issues including violence against women.
