Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha on Friday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first address to Parliament in the Budget session, today said corruption has ruined the country and should not be discussed through a political prism.
"Whose shirt is whiter, let us forget this tu tu main main... I'll make an allegation, they'll make an allegation. Forget the past. How can we come together against corruption for the future?" asked PM Modi while replying to a debate on the President's address in the Lok Sabha.
Cheered by his massive contingent of over 300 on the treasury benches, PM Modi said attacked the Congress, which was in power for before he led the BJP to power last year, for not setting up a special investigation team on black money for three years after the Supreme Court asked for one.
"Our first decision in our first Cabinet meeting was the decision on SIT on Black Money," he said, to much thumping of desks. "We have compelled the nation to talk about Black Money, this is a big thing," the PM said.
The PM began his speech by stressing, "I take criticism positively." He then took on the opposition, point by point, on issues that it has criticised him and his government on, also listing its successes in the nine months that it has been in power.
With each dig at the opposition, and there were many, the PM drew laughs.