New Delhi, February 4 (PTI) – In a sharp response to the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal during his address in the Lok Sabha, following the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.
During his speech, Modi took aim at Rahul Gandhi, without naming him directly, over the latter’s apparent indifference to the concerns of the poor. The Prime Minister said that those who “entertain themselves by getting photo sessions done in huts of the poor” would likely find discussions about poverty in Parliament “boring.”
The remark came in the wake of a conversation that had taken place in the Parliament complex soon after President Droupadi Murmu’s address on January 31. During this interaction, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were heard discussing the speech, with Rahul Gandhi questioning whether the President's address was “boring.”
Taking another swipe, Modi also criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his focus on luxuries. The Prime Minister pointed out that some leaders seemed more concerned with "jacuzzis and stylish showers," while his government was working towards providing clean water to every household. This was a clear reference to the contrast in priorities between the AAP-led Delhi government and the central government's infrastructure initiatives.
Modi also used the occasion to thank the people for the opportunity to respond to the President’s speech in the Lok Sabha 14 times, emphasizing that his government had prioritized real development over empty slogans.
“We did not give false slogans, but real development to the people,” the Prime Minister remarked, reaffirming his government’s commitment to uplifting the poor. He further added, “For five decades, slogans of ‘garibi hatao’ (eradicate poverty) echoed in the country, but now 25 crore poor people have come out of poverty.”
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Modi mentioned the construction of four crore homes for the poor, stating, “The one who has lived that kind of life knows what it means to have a house with a proper roof.”
He also pointed out that understanding the struggles of the poor and the common man requires more than mere empathy – it demands genuine passion and commitment. “The pain of the poor, the troubles of the common man, cannot be understood just like that; it requires passion, and some just don’t have it,” he concluded, taking an indirect swipe at the opposition’s leadership.
Prime Minister Modi’s address in the Lok Sabha emphasized his government’s focus on tackling poverty and improving the lives of ordinary citizens, in stark contrast to the opposition's criticisms.
