"Miraculous" changes took place in the country during 1942-47, PM Modi said.
Highlights
- Vice President to be elected today
- BJP veteran Venkaiah Naidu is NDA's candidate
- President Ram Nath Kovind was also NDA's candidate
On the eve of the vice-presidential election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today drew a parallel between 1942-47 and 2017-22, voicing hope the next five years will see a similar transformation in the country as people drawn from same "family and traditions" will occupy the two top posts.
Addressing lawmakers of the NDA and other parties backing the ruling bloc's vice presidential candidate Venkaiah Naidu, PM Modi noted that top posts like those of president and vice president will be held for the next five years by people from an identical ideology, a reference to their BJP background.
"This is the first time that such an opportunity has arisen since Independence. There is strong possibility that we will be able to give a lot to the country in the next five years," he said.
Ram Nath Kovind, who was elected President last month, is the first former BJP leader to occupy the top constitutional post and Mr Naidu's win is also certain due to the massive majority the NDA enjoys in the electoral college. Besides he is also being backed by parties like the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, YSR Congress and rival factions of the AIADMK.
"Miraculous" changes had taken place in the country during 1942-47, PM Modi said, adding he saw 2017-22 in a similar way.
"President, vice-president, speaker... will be from the same ideology and traditions. We too are from the same family," he said.
The BJP, he said, is different from the Congress, which he described as an umbrella organisation having different people drawn from various spheres.
Under Mr Naidu, the Rajya Sabha will be able to guide the country in the way envisaged by the Constitution, he said, adding that the happenings in Parliament are being criticized a lot.
It is the responsibility of the NDA MPs to enhance its dignity, he said, assuring Mr Naidu, who will be the chairman of the Upper House, of his government's cooperation.