No-trust vote a result of Opposition’s arrogance: Modi

Dubbing the no-trust vote against his government a result of the opposition’s “arrogance”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all parties to dismiss the move and accused the Congress of working with the mindset of ‘Modi hatao’ (remove Modi).

Responding to a day-long debate on the no-confidence motion, he said some people are indulging in “negative politics.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit back at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for accusations against the government on national security issues and asked him to abstain from “childish statements” such as describing surgical strikes as ‘jumla” (rhetoric slogan).

During the no-confidence motion against the Modi government in Lok Sabha, Gandhi had earlier in the day accused the government of “lying” to the nation on the issue of sharing details of the Rafale jet deal and had called the prime minister a “bhagidaar” (collaborator) in cases of alleged corruption, not a “chowkidaar” (guard).

“We must abstain from making childish statements on sensitive issues,” Modi said during his reply to the motion, moved by the BJP’s former ally TDP. Modi also said the surgical strike against Pakistan-based terror camps must not be called a ‘jumla’ as it would amount to insulting the security forces.

Modi said he cannot imagine the truth can be crushed like this and the country can be misled in such a manner.

Gandhi had said the French president had clearly conveyed to him during a meeting that there was no problem in sharing details relating to the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal.

Alleging corruption in the deal, the Congress has been demanding details, including cost of equipment and weapons, but the government has refused to share them citing a secrecy pact with France.

Hours after Gandhi’s comments, a Spokesperson in the French Foreign Ministry said France had signed a security pact with India in 2008 which legally binds the two countries to protect the classified information which could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment.

Speaking about the the Doklam stand-off with China, Modi hit out at Gandhi saying when the entire country was united, the Congress leader was meeting the Chinese envoy.

On Rahul’s hug

He also took a dig at Rahul Gandhi for asking him to stand up for a hug after walking across to his chair in the Lok Sabha, saying the Congress President appeared to be in a hurry to occupy his seat.

Only the electorate of the country can decide his fate and make him sit on his chair, Modi said, asking “what is the hurry”. Gandhi was present in the House when the Prime Minister made the statement.

Modi said the floor test was not to measure the strength of his government, rather it was a “force test” for the Congress and other opposition parties.

Vote bank politics

Hitting back at the opposition parties, Modi said his government was not doing politics of appeasement or vote bank politics, but has been working with the philosophy of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’

He said the NDA government has done several things for the benefit of the people, but the opposition does not believe in the facts. “We are taking steps for doubling the income of farmers by 2022,” he said.

Modi said the opposition, especially the Congress does not trust the Chief Justice of India, the Election Commission and the electronic voting machines.

He said “those who don’t have confidence in themselves, cannot trust anyone.”

“I pray to God to give you the strength to bring a no- confidence motion in 2024 also. My best wishes are with you”, the Prime Minister said, taking a dig at the opposition.

He also targetted the Congress saying the major opposition party had brought the no-trust motion “to spread instability in the country.”

Referring to the Dokalam stand-off, he said “when the whole country was united at the time of Dokalam, you met the Chinese envoy,” Modi said in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi.

On Gandhi’s allegations on the Rafale aircraft deal, he said “we must abstain from making childish statements on sensitive issues.”

He also termed the surgical strikes as ‘jumla strikes’ as an insult to the security forces

Tearing into Rahul Gandhi’s comments that he was a ‘bhagidar’ (collaborator) and not a ‘chowkidar’ (watchman), Modi said he was in fact a partner in the aspirations of the people.

He said he was neither a ‘saudagar’ (trader), nor a ’thekedar’ (contractor) like the Congress.

The Prime Minister said the Congress party had misused no-confidence motions to spread instability in the country to ensure that the Gandhi family remains in power.

Dubbing surgical strikes as ‘jumla’ strike is an insult to security forces, he questioned Gandhi’s intent in targeting the armed forces.

Mocking the Congress president, he said it is a fact that he cannot see eye-to-eye with Gandhi, saying those who dared to do it, including stalwarts like former President Pranab Mukherjee, Vallabh Bhai Patel, former PM Morarji Desai and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, had to suffer.

“You are ‘naamdaar’ (dynast), I am ‘kaamdar’ (worker). I cannot dare to see eye-to-eye with you,” he told Gandhi on his remark that he cannot look in the Congress leader’s eyes.

“The entire nation saw what the eyes did today. It is clear in front of everyone,” he said indicating Gandhi’s apparent post-hug wink.

“Had it not been your arrogance, and had you understood the problems of the states, GST would have been implemented five years ago,” the Prime Minister said.

Crime against women

The Prime Minister condemned the incidents of rape and atrocities against women and said “any instance of violence brings shame to the nation.

“I will once again urge the state governments to punish those who indulge in violence,” Modi said in an apparent reference to mob lynching.

Referring to gender justice, he said his government stood with the Muslim women in their quest for justice.

The Prime Minister blamed Congress for the division of Andhra Pradesh in a manner which had left the people there unhappy.

He said when the TDP decided to pull out of NDA, he had warned its leader N Chandrababu Naidu that his party was .

“getting entangled in a race of one-upmanship with the YSR Congress.

“Just because of your internal politics with the YSRCP, you are doing this, I had told the AP CM,” Modi said, adding that the issue was now being raked up in Parliament.

He said his government will keep working for the people of Andhra Pradesh and “we will do everything possible for the development of the state,” he said.

“NDA government,” Modi said, “is committed towards the development of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana“.

He said the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

“It was done peacefully. These states are prospering ...

The Congress divided Andhra Pradesh and their conduct then was shameful,” he said.

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