MODI TEARS INTO CONGRESS, SAYS IT’S LIKE DEATH

TURNS POETIC Appeals for cooperation in passing key bills in the Rajya Sabha

PM Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Wednesday, drawing an analogy between the principal opposition party and “mrityu (death)” that remains untouched by criticism. He also appealed for cooperation in passing key bills in the Rajya Sabha. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the upper House, Modi sought to draw a distinction between the Congress and other opposition parties, saying the principal opposition party is blessed like death, which he said is above criticism.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Wednesday, drawing an analogy between the principal opposition party and “mrityu (death)” that remains untouched by criticism.

He also appealed for cooperation in passing key bills in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA is in a minority.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the upper House, Modi sought to draw a distinction between the Congress and other opposition parties, saying the principal opposition party is blessed like death, which he said is above criticism.

“Death is a blessing.... People say someone died of cancer, (people say) he died of old age...The cancer and old age is blamed but not the death,” Modi said.

“When we criticise t he Congress, it is reported as - criticism on Opposition, not criticism on Congress. Congress never gets a bad name.”

But when the government criti- cised parties such as the Janata Dal (United) or Bahujan Samaj Party, the media reported it as “JD(U) is under attack or BSP is under attack”, he added.

These remarks were interpreted in political circles as a subtle attempt to drive a wedge between the Congress and other opposition parties.

While the Congress and the Left have stalled crucial legislation such as the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to enable the rollout of the goods and services tax, many other opposition parties have gone along with them without having any ideological or meritbased objections to it.

The JD(U), for instance, is opposing the GST bill despite the fact that Bihar would be a big gainer if the bill gets passed.

Modi hailed the Rajya Sabha as a “chamber of ideas” and insisted on coordination between both Houses

“Nation is waiting for us to pass many bills. Let us pass those bills passed in the Lok Sabha as soon as possible and give impetus to India’s progress,” he said.

Taking a sharp dig at the Congress for “trying to take credit for all projects and initiatives of my government”, Modi said there are two kinds of people –“one who work and the other who take credit for it.” None other than former prime minister Indira Gandhi said that “there is less competition in the first category of those who work”, he said.

Modi listed transparency, accountability and decentralization as three key aspects of his governance and emphasized on his aim to double farmer income by 2022.

“Government is ensuring that benefit of subsidy goes only to those deserving, it is not issue of saving money. The biggest beneficiaries of MUDRA bank are SC/ST, OBC communities and women,” he said.

Modi also talked about cleanliness, a key thrust of his administration as exemplified by the Swachh Bharat scheme, and said it had become a “mass movement”. “

“Cleanliness helps the poor the most. Due to lack of cleanliness the poor are forced to spend more money on medicines.”

Referring to skill development and clean Ganga initiatives launched by his government, the PM said he was aware these schemes were launched by former governments but added nothing substantial had happened on these fronts. “But the issue is not the initiative only... I know Rajiv Gandhi had started the clean Ganga project... if you have started it, why then is Ganga not clean these days,” he said.

People say someone died of cancer, he died of old age...The cancer and old age is blamed but not the death… When we criticise the Congress, it is reported as criticism of Opposition, not criticism of Congress. Congress never gets a bad name.

NARENDRA MODI, prime minister