New Delhi: On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack, directing it at the Opposition as a whole and singling out the Congress party. He referred to the recently proposed no-confidence motion against the government as an unexpected stroke of luck, suggesting that the public's trust lay with the government, not the Opposition.
Modi ridiculed the Congress party's recent electoral failures and its track record of erroneous policy predictions. He accused the party of fixating on a single family and highlighted their tendency to amplify every negative aspect of India. He indirectly advised them to prepare for another period in opposition.
The Prime Minister made a pledge to elevate India to the status of the world's third-largest economy if given a third term in office. He emphasized that the decisions taken today would serve as the bedrock for India's progress over the next millennium. Modi underscored the prevailing sense of confidence among the country's youth and asserted that the international community had faith in India's capacity to contribute positively on a global scale.
He also drew attention to the contradictions within the newly established INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc, labeling it an "arrogant" coalition of parties destined for electoral defeat.
Modi confidently stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would regain power in 2024. He criticized those who introduced the no-confidence motion for their lack of preparation and dared the Opposition to present a similar motion in 2028, after a third term, paralleling their actions in 2018 and now in 2023, both times preceding Lok Sabha elections.
"In 2018, fate played its role when the opposition tabled a no-confidence motion. Even then, I had asserted that this isn't a test for the government but rather their self-assessment. When the votes were cast, the opposition couldn't secure the support it aimed for. Subsequently, during the elections, the electorate displayed their lack of confidence in the opposition. The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and BJP garnered even more seats. Thus, the opposition's no-confidence motion turns out to be a fortunate omen for us. It is clear that you have predicted an unprecedented victory for NDA and BJP in 2024, accompanied by the people's blessings," Modi articulated at the commencement of his address, setting the tone for a speech marked by conviction and assertiveness.
Modi delivered his speech in the Lok Sabha after the debate triggered by a no-confidence motion presented by Congress parliamentarian Gaurav Gogoi, citing the government's failure to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
The Prime Minister took aim at the Opposition on various fronts. Firstly, he accused them of trivializing the legislative process in Parliament, highlighting the importance of the bills passed in this session—bills that, in his view, could have benefited from the Opposition's constructive involvement.
"Your interests are centered not on addressing the plight of the impoverished but solely on your lust for power. You show no concern for the aspirations of our youth; your preoccupation lies in your own political destiny."
Secondly, Modi criticized the Opposition for their lack of preparation regarding the no-confidence motion. "Even your own supporters are dissatisfied on social media. You orchestrated the confrontation, but we emerged victorious. While we continue to score hundreds, you are left with no balls to play. Why not equip yourselves and return? I afforded you five years to prepare." He pointedly highlighted that the leader of the Congress party in the houses, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was notably absent from the list of speakers slated to address the motion.
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