Attack on defence minister insult to nari shakti: PM
AGRA: Without taking any name, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at the Congress for having ‘insulted’ defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Describing it as an ‘insult’ to the nation’s ‘nari shakti’, the PM indicated those behind it will have to pay the price.
Modi’s attack came hours after Congress president Rahul Gandhi had claimed at a rally in Jaipur that the PM had run away to Punjab and had got a woman to defend him in the Rafale debate in Lok Sabha.
“This is an insult not only to her, but also to all women in India and irresponsible politicians will have to pay the price for it,” Modi warned in his 45-minute speech. He was addressing people at Kothi Meena Bazar ground hereafter laying foundation stones and inaugurating developmental projects worth Rs 3,500 crore.
Avoiding directly naming the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, which are in the process of firming up an alliance in UP, he also said political rivals, who did not like to see each other earlier, were now ‘uniting’ just to dislodge and stop the ‘chowkidar’ (country’s watchman) from exposing their corruption.
“People who hated each other... Everything is forgotten... the guesthouse incident of Lucknow (an apparent reference to the attack on Mayawati during the SP regime in 1995), the Muzaffarnagar riots and much more are now forgotten and they are striking alliances,” he said.
“The agenda is: Save your skin and work to defeat Modi, because the ‘watchman is alert now’.” Modi asked the crowd whether or not he should perform his duties as a ‘watchman’ working honestly. When people responded ‘yes’, the PM said all conspiracies against him would be defeated and the investigative agencies would not stop until each paise of public money looted was unearthed and accounted for.
“The ‘chowkidar’ is vigilant, alert and working 24x7. No amount of political conspiracies and alliances will be able to stop my war against corruption,” he said.
“If chowkidar goes, they will loot the nation,” said Modi.
“We have to remain alert against those who are spreading confusion and are dividing the society to serve their vested interests,” he said.
“The investigation agencies will continue their work because we are committed to fighting corruption,” Modi said.
He also said,“Congress is worried after ‘raazdar’ (keeper of secrets), Michel Mama (alleged British middleman Christian Michel) came in our grip and (it is) worried about revelations in the (AgustaWestland) helicopter purchase. The Congress has sent a lawyer to save him, but this shows that there is something which the Congress wants to conceal.”
He highlighted the announcement about 10% reservation for the economically weaker section and claimed that the passage of the Constitution amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha was a ‘historic’ step in the interest of the poor.
Asserting that only an extra provision had been made and the existing status had not been disturbed, he said, “We have also decided to increase seats in higher education by 10 % so that nobody is deprived of their rights.” “It was a step to help the poor belonging to the general category so that they get reservation in government employment and education. There were declarations by others in their manifesto, but I always maintained that the promised reservation above 50 % required an amendment to the constitution and without it, all such promises were dishonesty. Those making hollow declarations were taking away the share of others already having reservation. Thus, all these efforts failed,” he said.
“I took the initiative for amendment in the Constitution so that no harm is caused to the Dalit, OBC, Adivasi and others already having reservation. I said this as chief minister and complied with it as prime minister and implemented reservation for general category without causing harm to dalits, OBCs and others,” he said. Further, the PM said the opposition was questioning the timing of the Constitution amendment Bill for 10% reservation. “If I had brought it three months ago, the blame would be that it was aimed at elections in five states. Earlier, the Karnataka elections would have been cited. Elections continue one after another in our country. This is why I advocate holding state assembly elections together with the Lok Sabha polls,” Modi. said
He talked about the Citizen (Amendment) Bill and said “they (the government) will stand with those who got separated and faced harassment”.
Defending GST, the prime minister claimed that it was not a new tax but replacement of multiple taxation on goods in the 30-40% slab. He said 90 % of the items now attracted less than 18% GST. “The aware traders are benefitting from GST and further relaxations are being considered in view of suggestion received from the people because we believe in mass participation. We have requested the GST Council to increase income limit of industrial houses (MSME sector) from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 75 lakh besides levying 5 % GST on houses made for the middle class,” said Modi.
Earlier, the PM inaugurated the Ganga Jal and other projects worth Rs 3500 crore for Agra. He said supply of Ganga water would help Agra residents remain healthy and the facility would promote tourism in the city.
He also assured that a heliport, a super specialty centre and extra beds at SN Medical College and Hospital and a railway overbridge would boost tourism in Agra.
The PM applauded the One District One Project (ODOP) scheme and stated that the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the centre would assist the poor who found it tough to meet medical expenses.