Highlights
KANPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Opposition of obstructing development works merely on the ground that they could not accomplish these during their tenure while alleging that they keep their political interests above that of society and the country.
“Many times, the opposition parties put some obstacles in the government’s work as they could not implement the decisions taken by them when they were in power,” Modi said addressing virtually a programme on the 10th death anniversary of former Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Harmohan Singh Yadav.
“Now, if they (decisions) are implemented, they oppose it. People of the country don’t like it,” he added.
Recalling words of former
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi underscored the primacy of the nation over party politics.
“Parties exist because of democracy and democracy exists because of the country. Most parties in our country, especially all non-Congress parties, have followed this idea,” he said.
“I remember the 1971 India-Pakistan war when all major parties stood shoulderto-shoulder with the government. When the first nuclear test was conducted by the country, all parties stood firmly with the government,” Modi added. The prime minister said when the country’s democracy was crushed during the Emergency, » ‘Many times, the opposition parties put some obstacles in the government’s work as they could not implement the decisions taken by them when they were in power’
» Recalling words of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi underscored the primacy of the nation over party politics
all major parties came together to save the Constitution.
“Chaudhary Harmohan Singh Yadav was also a ‘jujharu sainik’ (combative soldier) of that struggle. In other words, the interests of our country and that of society are bigger than our ideologies,” he stressed.
“However, in recent times, there has been a trend to put ideology and political interests above the interests of the country and that of society,” he added. Speaking on social justice, Modi said every section of society should get equal opportunities.
“No one should be deprived of the basic needs. The country will move forward when the Dalits, backwards, tribals, women and divyang move ahead. Harmohanji considered education as the most important for this transformation,” he said.
Hailing Yadav, Modi said he not only took a political stand against the massacre of the Sikhs in 1984 but also came forward to save them.
He risked his life and saved the lives of many Sikh families, Modi said, adding that the country recognised his leadership and awarded him the Shaurya Chakra for it.