PM Narendra Modi replies to the debate on the President's address in Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a speech in parliament today to counter the opposition's concerted attack on his abrupt ban of 500- and 1,000-rupee notes. Reserving his strongest barbs for the Congress, the PM said that his government is committed to cleansing the country of corruption, which requires reversing the actions of the Congress. "Earlier people would ask how much money has gone (to the corrupt). Now people talk about how much money has come in. This is how discourse has changed after we have assumed office," PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha. His detailed defense of the demonetisation drive comes as the strategically crucial stage of Uttar Pradesh gets ready to vote.
Here are the top 5 quotes of the Prime Minister:
"The earthquake finally did happen," he said, provoking laughter from members of his coalition. The PM was referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim, offered in December, that the government was preventing him from speaking in parliament on the notes ban because if he was allowed to share his remarks, "an earthquake will happen." Yesterday, Uttarakhand was hit by an earthquake of 5.8 magnitude, tremors were felt in Delhi too.
In another swipe at Rahul Gandhi, the PM said "How can someone see 'SEVA' (service) or any positive virtue in the word SCAM?" Mr Gandhi said at a rally on Sunday in UP that allegations of scams made against his party are vendetta and that those who describe the Congress as scam-centric should know SCAM stands for "Seva, Courage, Ability and Modesty". The PM had earlier clubbed his political opponents in UP as a "SCAM -S for Samajwadi Party, C for Congress, A for Akhilesh and M for Mayawati."
"The notes ban was introduced at the correct time, the economy was ready to handle it. We could not have made the move at a time when the economy was weak or not progressing," the PM said.
"My fight is for the poor and giving the poor their due. This fight will continue. It does not matter how big you are, you will have to give back what belongs to the poor. My fight is for the poor": PM on demonetisation and fighting corruption.
On September's surgical strikes against Pakistan, the PM said: "I was astonished to see some of the statements made by some of you about surgical strikes in the first 24-hours. Put a hand on your heart and ask yourselves if that was right... You are troubled with the surgical strikes. You cannot bear good work done by others. It is unsettling for you to digest the facts. Deal with it.
Post a comment