New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress in his Rajya Sabha speech during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address, accusing the party of hatred towards BR Ambedkar, appeasement politics, and economic mismanagement.
Key Highlights of PM Modi’s Speech:
- Criticism of Congress: PM Modi alleged that Congress’ politics is built on lies, corruption, family-first approach, and appeasement. He also accused the party of attempting to destabilize elected governments in the past.
- BJP’s Welfare Focus: He asserted that the BJP-led government prioritizes the welfare of the poor, middle class, and marginalized communities, highlighting that 25 crore Indians have moved out of poverty.
- BR Ambedkar and OBC Welfare: PM Modi criticized Congress’ historical treatment of BR Ambedkar, stating they failed to confer him the Bharat Ratna. He also highlighted that the BJP government granted constitutional status to the OBC Commission, fulfilling a long-pending demand.
- Economic Reforms and License Raj: Modi blamed Congress-era policies for India’s slow economic growth, referring to the “license permit raj” and how it stifled progress. He said India is now among the fastest-growing economies and praised initiatives like Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
- Historical Suppression of Freedom of Speech: PM Modi recalled instances where Congress governments suppressed dissent, mentioning Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar, and Lata Mangeshkar’s brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar facing repercussions for opposing government actions.
- Infrastructure and Development: Modi emphasized the government’s focus on infrastructure, border village development, and boosting domestic industries like Khadi and MSMEs.
The motion of thanks was later adopted by the Rajya Sabha, following a similar passage in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.