It was his last speech of the current Lok Sabha session, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the opportunity to lash out at the Opposition alliance, especially the Congress, and claim that the BJP will win as many as 370 parliamentary seats in the upcoming general elections. 

From his party’s OBC outreach to the impact of welfare schemes on the poor, Modi said the stage was set for India to emerge as the third biggest economy in his third term as PM.

“The third term of our government is not very far now. Only 100-125 days left to go...I don’t go into numbers but I can see the mood of the country. It will make the NDA cross 400 and BJP will definitely get 370 seats...The third term will be about taking big decisions,” Modi said, responding to the motion of thanks to the President’s address.

The BJP had issued a three-line whip to all party MPs, and the Lok Sabha was nearly packed as he made the speech.

Remarks on the Opposition

“I see that many of you (opposition) have even lost the courage to contest elections. Some seats were changed last time too, I have heard that many people are looking to change their seats this time as well,” said PM Modi. “I have also heard that many people now want to go to Rajya Sabha instead of Lok Sabha. They are looking for their paths by assessing the situation.”

Modi said the Opposition alliance appeared to be dysfunctional now. “When there is a lack of trust among alliance partners, it raises concerns about their ability to foster trust at the national level,” Modi said. 

The PM said that he “appreciates” the Opposition’s commitment to their promises. “They have pledged to stay outside the Parliament. Your dedicated efforts are recognised, and I assure you that the people, who are the embodiment of divine will, will determine your position.”

OBC push

Modi claimed that OBC leaders were insulted by the UPA government during its tenure and the Congress tried to damage Karpoori Thakur's government in Bihar.

“We honoured such OBC leaders when Karpoori Thakur was bestowed with Bharat Ratna,” he said.

Congress ‘cancel culture’

Slamming the Congress, Modi said it was centred around just one family.

Modi used the term cancel culture to hit out at the Congress. “Congress is trapped in cancel culture. They cancel Vande Bharat Trains, Make in India and the new Parliament building. They cancel every achievement of India,” he said. 

“Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai,” Modi said.

The prime minister also said former PM Jawaharlal Nehru “thought Indians were lazy" and that Indira Gandhi was no different than him. He said their thought process was that the Indians can never be as hardworking as the Japanese. “Congress has always belived in one family; their vision and thought-process is limited to one family.”

New Parliament

“When the President came to this new Parliament building to address all of us and the pride and honour with which Sengol led the entire procession – we were walking behind it. When we become a witness to the reflection of that holy moment of India's independence in this new tradition in the new Parliament building, the honour of democracy rises,” said the prime minister, while referring to the new Parliament building inaugurated by him.

Welfare schemes

Modi’s speech did not go without mentioning his government’s welfare efforts.

The prime minister said that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty in the last decade under the NDA government. “If given the means, the poor have the power to defeat poverty themselves,” he said. “This approach has not only uplifted the poor but also instilled a sense of self-respect among them.”

PM Modi also said that 50 crore individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have active bank accounts, while four crore families have been provided pucca houses. PM Modi also said that the sanitation coverage in the country has progressed from 40 to 100 percent. “With the pace of the Congress party, this would have taken three generations.”

This report was published with AI assistance.

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