‘BUDGET SESSION A ‘WINNER’ FOR GOVT’
NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding frequent disruption of Parliament over a host of contentious issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Budget Session was a "winner" for his government as it could secure the passage of many bills, including the key GST legislations.
Addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting a day before the session ends, he referred to the party's victory in the recent state assembly elections and credited his government's "delivery" on its pro-poor schemes for people's trust in it.
The Prime Minister said a "positive" public mood in favour of the Centre's ruling dispensation pervaded the country as its completes three years in office next month and pitched for a harder push to the reforms and development agenda
He asked party MPS to claim credit for the government's achievements, saying they will be its face when it fights the next elections. "This is a golden opportunity for us to lift the lives of the poor, the deprived... This is the time for doing more development and reforms," he said.
The BJP MPS were also informed about the month-long programme to celebrate the government's third anniversary from May 24.
Modi told them that the promise of 'garibi hatao' (a slogan coined by Indira Gandhi) remained a catchphrase till his government assumed office and began acting on it.
People are witnessing such develop- ment for the first time, he said.
The hope people had from his government when it came to power in 2014 has changed into trust due to the work done by it, the Prime Minister said.
Briefing reporters following the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said Modi called the Budget Session "very constructive" with the Lok Sabha passing 21 bills and the Rajya Sabha 14. These include the crucial GST bills and also the politically important OBC bill.
Referring to the massive win for BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Prime Minister said it reflected how people's hope in his government has turned into confidence.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who also addressed the meeting, outlined the one-month third anniversary programme, Kumar said.
From the party MPS to chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and office-bearers, all will travel across the country during the exercise.
Heaping praise on Modi, Naidu referred to Monday night's meeting of 33 NDA constituents where important allies like Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal and N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP spoke about his "transformative" leadership.
"Modi has emerged as the poor's messiah," he claimed.
Noting that on Tuesday people were celebrating the birth anniversary of Hanuman, Modi said the devotee of Lord Ram was an example of a dedicated social worker who inspired one and all.