Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 7: The prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday turned the table on the Congress attacking the grand old party for its alleged anti-national act which then was appreciated by many as a humanitarian gesture.
“It was the Congress sin that Coronavirus spread all over the country and helped the virus to enter where there was no impact of the infection in the initial stages,” Modi said in Parliament while replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President for inaugurating the budget session of the House.
“You can oppose me, but why are you (Congress) opposing the Fit India Movement and other schemes? Who is not proud of Yoga? You made fun of it as well. No wonder you were voted out in many states years ago… I think you have made up your mind not to come to power for the next 100 years,” Modi teased the Congress.
Modi ripped into the opposition, more specifically the Congress, accusing them of being responsible for the countrywide spread of Covid and the migrant crisis in the initial days and alleging that this was “paap (sin)”. The opposition did not do anything positive, like asking the people to take Covid precautions, but their contribution to the pandemic was not insignificant.
Pointing at the opposition-ruled governments in Maharashtra and Delhi, he alleged, “You people pushed the labourers into difficulties.” “The Congress crossed all the limits,” he said stating, “During the first wave, when we had lockdown, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) was advising that ‘stay wherever you are’… the Congress at the Mumbai railway station gave tickets to labours to go and spread coronavirus,” he said.
“In Delhi, the government used mics on jeeps in slums to go home, arranged buses,” the Prime Minister said, adding that in Uttar Pradesh and other states “where corona didn’t have this intensity, there also coronavirus spread due to this.” Alongside all that, the opposition, he contended, has neglected the government’s achievements.
“During Covid, the Indian economy was the fastest growing in the world, farmers produced record quantity foodgrains… Lot of countries faced food shortages. But this country didn’t let anyone die of hunger. India gave free ration to over 80 crore people and still giving,” he said.
Modi said all the acts of the opposition was not out of ignorance or a matter of co-incidence but were “deliberate” because “some people thought Corona will ruin Modi’s image”. “Is it country not yours or the people? Aren’t their happiness sorrows yours as well?” he said.
“Such a big problem came, how many elected leaders requested people to wear masks, wash hands, practice social distancing. If they told the public so, what would have BJP government or Modi benefited?” he said, adding that for this behaviour of the Congress, “Not just me, the entire country is fed up”.
As example, he cited states, which, he said, have rejected the Congress for decades. He said “unfortunately, some people’s (opposition) minds are still stuck in 2014. Even after so many losses, your arrogance remains and your ecosystem does not let it go. Question is not about election result, but the intent of those who have stayed in power for so long. Wherever people got a way, they didn’t let you enter again. Don’t show them mirrors, they will break the mirrors too. Criticism is a jewel of democracy, but blind opposition is an insult to democracy,” he said.
He cited examples to drive home his point. In 1988, the people of Nagaland voted for the Congress last. Odisha voted for you last in 1995 — it has been 27 years. In 1994, you won majority in Goa single-handedly, but Goa didnt accept you since. In 1988, Tripura, 34 years ago, you got the mandate. In 1985, it was the turn of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. In West Bengal, they voted for you last in 1972,” he said. “After 40 years, the Congress could not drive out poverty, but the poor drove Congress out,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the Congress had failed to secure people’s mandate in several states for decades but was still indulging in “blind opposition.” He said the statements and the actions of the Opposition party suggest that it has resigned itself to staying out of power for 100 years. “We are firm believers in democracy. And we also believe that criticism is an essential part of democracy. But, blind opposition to everything is never the way ahead,” Modi said.
Attacking the opposition, Modi said, “They thought maybe this country will never be able to save itself or fight such a big battle (on Covid). Corona too was used for politics,” he said and asked, “is it good for humanity?”
Stating that Coronavirus was a global pandemic, Modi claimed some parties even misused that for political gains. “Some thought Covid will harm Modi’s image. I guess to pull others down, you use Gandhi’s name. If I talk about ‘vocal for local’ then you ignore it. Don’t you want India to become atmanirbhar?” he asked.
During the debate, the opposition parties had targeted the ruling BJP and the central government when in 2020, during the prolonged virus lockdown, millions of migrants, stranded without jobs or shelter, started heading to their home states on trucks or on foot.
The gesture of the Bollywood actor Sonu Sood in helping out some migrant labourers in distress to return home was then highly appreciated by many and several individuals and non-government organisations had also come out to assist him. The actor is since campaigning for the Congress in Punjab where his sister is a candidate of the grand old party.
Modi claimed that the Covid pandemic had changed the world order. “In the post Covid, there is a new world order. We are being recognised as a leader. India must take the global leadership role. It’s a turning point and we should not lose this opportunity.
Turning to the problems of the farmers, the prime minister said during the pandemic, the country took a big decision to save small farmers from difficulties. People who have hatred towards small farmers, have no right to do politics in the name of farmers. Some people have not been able to change this mentality of slavery even after years of independence. Those who have lived in palaces all their lives aren’t concerned about small farmers.
“Files are important for you (opposition), for us lives of 130 crore Indians are important. During Covid, Indian economy was the fastest growing in the world, farmers produced record quantity foodgrains. Congress has such people who say that the entrepreneurs are a variant of coronavirus. People who don’t lessons from history, they get lost in history,” he said.
Modi said the opposition dared to say in Parliament that ‘Make In India’ can’t happen. “Today, India’s youth and entrepreneurs have done it, you (opposition) have become a joke. Make In India’s success is giving you pain, I can understand. Make in India means commissions will end, corruption will end, filling coffers will end – that’s why it gives them pain,” he said.
Speaking on inflation, Modi claimed that in five years of Congress government, there was double digit inflation in country. “The government accepted the inflation was out of control. In 2011, then finance minister had said shamelessly ‘don’t expect Aladdin’s chirag (lamp) to take down inflation.’ Congress leaders were insensitive towards inflation,” he claimed. Modi said handling inflation was his government’s primary aim and in the last six years had managed to keep the inflation rate below five per cent.
“Pandit Nehru had said the Korean war caused inflation. He had said that any disturbance in America also caused inflation. He also gave up on inflation. If Congress was in power today, they would have shaken off the responsibility and blamed the inflation on corona. But we are working with full strength,” he claimed.
Accusing the Congress as the “leader of the Tukde gang, Modi said, “The British left but divide and rule mentality remained. The Congress policy is “divide and rule.” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the way India handled pandemic is an example for the world. “The ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is the perfect time to think about how India can play a global leadership role in the coming years Post Covid-19 pandemic, the world is moving fast towards a new world order and India should not miss this opportunity,” he said.
“There is a new world order post-Covid-19 pandemic. We are being recognised as a leader. India must take the global leadership role,” the Prime Minister said. “Earlier, gas connection was a status symbol. Now, the poorest of the poor have access to the same and that is why it is very gladdening. The poor have access to bank accounts, DBT is helping in service delivery…these are major changes,” he said.
The PM said today citizens were getting a gas connection, house and toilets but some opposition leaders are still stuck in 2014.
Modi began his address by paying tributes to the iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday. “Lata Mangeshkar moved an entire nation. She also brought the whole nation together,” he said.