Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on the opposition in Parliament, accusing them of being responsible for Covid-19 spread across the country and the migrant crisis during the first wave of the pandemic. Taking a sarcastic jibe at the Congress, Modi said the party has made up its mind not to come to power in the next hundred years.
“During the first wave of Covid-19, when WHO was advising that 'stay wherever you are', you (Congress) gave free train tickets to migrant workers to leave Mumbai. At the same time, Delhi government told migrant workers to leave the city and provided them buses. As a result, Covid spread rapidly in Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand,” he said.
The prime minister was participating in a debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha. He attacked the Congress for opposing the various government schemes and said there has been no change in the “ego” of the party even after losing several elections.
"You can oppose me, but why are you (Congress) opposing the Fit India Movement and other schemes? 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 said. He further alleged that the Congress doesn’t want to fulfill the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi.
“We need to strengthen our small farmers. Our focus is on them. But those who don't know the pain of small farmers don't have any right to do politics in the name of the farmers,” Modi said.
He further attacked the opposition party, accusing it of adopting the “divide and rule” policy. “Congress has become the leader of Tukde Tukde Gang,” he said.
The prime minister said a new world order has been created after the Covid-19 pandemic and India should seize this opportunity to take the role of global leadership.
"The world is moving very fast towards a new world order, new systems following the Covid-19 pandemic. India should not miss this opportunity. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is the perfect time to think about how India can play a global leadership role in the coming years,” he said.
Modi noted that India has made several developmental strides in the last few years, including the strengthening of the infrastructure. “Earlier, the gas connection was a status symbol. Now, the poorest of the poor have access to it. The poor have access to bank accounts, DBT is helping in service delivery...these are major changes," he said.
“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.
