New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, marking his first address on the floor of the House since securing a third term in office.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, “The public has chosen us in the world’s largest election campaign and I can understand the pain of some people. Despite spreading lies continuously, they suffered a huge defeat.” pic.twitter.com/RFEtG1EVL6
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024
The Opposition led by INDIA-bloc re-emerged with renewed vigour in the Parliament, determined to make their voices heard. They strategically chose the moment when PM Modi rose to respond to the President’s address to stage their protest. The catalyst for their actions was the Prime Minister’s speech coinciding with a representative from the violence-stricken state attempting to speak.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “This country has seen the politics of appeasement for a long time and the model of governance of appeasement for a long time…’Hum tushtikaran nahi santushtikaran ke vichaar ko lekar chalein hai’…” pic.twitter.com/Dk05yxuRAl
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024
The Prime Minister’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants of “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” (Dictatorship will not prevail) and “Justice for Manipur”.
Undeterred, the Prime Minister continued, “The people of India have given us the opportunity to work for the third time. They have given us a mandate. They saw our track record of 10 years. 250 million people came out of poverty. This has never happened since independence.”
Modi counters Gandhi’s fiery debut
The Prime Minister’s response followed closely on the heels of Rahul Gandhi’s fiery debut as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, which had captivated the house with its intensity.
Gandhi’s maiden address, spanning 62 minutes, touched upon a broad spectrum of contentious issues. He discussed the ethnic conflict in Manipur, the NEET controversy, the Agnipath scheme for military recruitment, the ongoing farm crisis, inflation, and the politics of hate.
Gandhi’s speech also sparked reactions from key figures on the treasury benches, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Gandhi of linking Hinduism with violence, alleging that he had hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community and disrespected the position of leader of the Opposition. Gandhi, however, clarified that his remarks were directed at the BJP and emphasised that the ruling party does not exclusively represent Hinduism.
Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, the leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also targeted the Prime Minister, accusing him of delivering divisive speeches during the Lok Sabha campaign.
First Published: Jul 02 2024 | 4:52 PM IST
