Taking a swipe at the opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that many of them had lost the courage to contest elections and resolved to stay on the opposition benches for a long time.
In his reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s address in Lok Sabha, Modi said several leaders were looking to change their seats or come to parliament through Rajya Sabha.
"For several decades, you were sitting here (on the treasury benches), but now you have resolved to stay there (opposition benches) for several decades. The people will bless you and keep you there. You will achieve greater heights and will be soon seen in the public galleries (of the House)," the prime minister said.
Modi said that the Budget Session was a good opportunity for the opposition to make some constructive suggestions, but they had let go of that chance. He also blamed the Congress for the present condition of the opposition.
"Congress had a good opportunity to play a good opposition, but they failed in that role. There are other young people in the opposition, but they were not allowed to speak out of fear that it may overshadow a particular person," Modi said in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi.
The prime minister further took a sarcastic jibe at the Congress, saying the grand old party may soon have to "shut shop" since they try to launch the same product time and again.
"It's election time, and you should have worked a bit harder, brought something new, and sent a message to the people. However, you failed miserably," he said.
Modi predicted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will get over 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and the BJP alone will win at least 370 seats.
"The third term of our government is not very far now. Only 100-125 days remain to go...I don't go into numbers, but I can see the mood of the country. It will make the NDA cross 400, and the BJP will definitely get 370 seats... The third term will be about taking very big decisions...," he said.
