Prime Minister Narendra Modi told parliament today that "the earthquake finally took place - the Earth (Dharti Ma) was likely angered." The PM's comment, hours after an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 hit Uttarakhand with sizeable tremors in Delhi and other areas in the North, was also a sly swipe at his political opponent, Rahul Gandhi. Months ago, Mr Gandhi, leading the opposition's attack of the PM's sudden demonetisation drive, warned that when he spoke in parliament about the notes ban, "an earthquake will happen."
PM Narendra Modi spoke in parliament today after President Pranab Mukherjee presented the government's agenda at the start of the budget session. His speech stressed the power of India's democracy or Jan Shakti; he said it accounts for how "a tea-seller's son can rise to become Prime Minister."
The PM's expansive attack on Mr Gandhi's party included a sharp retort to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who said that while Indira Gandhi had sacrificed her life for the nation, the PM cannot claim the patriotism of "even a dog from his family." The PM said today, "We are not brought up in this sort of obsequious tradition" (Hum kutton wali parampara se pale bade nahin hain). (Video Courtesy: Lok Sabha TV)