India is known as the ‘Mother of Democracy,’ says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his attack on the main Opposition party in the Rajya Sabha, claiming that the party's thinking is trapped by that of the "Urban Naxals," a day after his Lok Sabha speech in which he called the Congress party the leader of the tukde tukde gang.

He said, “It is being said that we are trying to change history. The Congress thinking seems to have been hijacked by urban Naxals. We just want to improve the memory of some people. We are not changing history. Some people’s history is limited to one family.”

Mr. Modi remarked, "Congress has a problem with 'country' as well." He was referring to a statement made by Congress' Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha last week about the necessity of federalism, in which he dived on two opposing visions of India, one of which saw India as a Union of States. Why is your party's name Indian National Congress if [the word] nation is unconstitutional? The name should be changed to Federation of Congress. Correct the errors made by your forefathers."

Mr. Modi was responding to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on a Motion of Thanks to the President's address. He spoke for a total of 96 minutes. Members of Congress protested by walking out of the House one hour into his speech.

Mr. Modi referred to Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's statement in the Upper House last week, saying, “Kharge ji said Congress laid the foundation of the country and BJP only foisted its flag on it. This was not said in a lighter vein, this is a result of that thinking that India was born in 1947. And it is a result of this that the people who ruled for 50 years have this thinking, this democracy is not at your mercy. You throttled democracy in 1975.”

PM further said, “We should say with pride that India is the mother of democracy. Congress’s problem is that they did not think beyond dynasty. The biggest threat to India is from dynastic political parties and when a family is supreme in a party, the first casualty is talent. For years the country has suffered this thinking. I expect all political parties to follow democracy in their working also, Congress should lead this initiative.”

Mr. Modi retorted to Mr. Kharge's earlier speech, in which he outlined his party's efforts, saying, “It was said that what would have happened if Congress not there...Indira is India, India is Indira. Mahatma Gandhi had understood this. I will tell you what would have happened if Congress wasn’t there- democracy would have been devoid of dynastic influence, we would be rid of foreign influence, there would be no emergency, no caste, and regional divide, no Sikh genocide would have taken place, Kashmir Pandits wouldn't have been displaced, daughters wouldn't have been killed in tandoor (over), if Congress wasn't there then people wouldn’t have to wait for basic facilities, I will keep counting.”

Mr. Modi continued his attack by claiming that the "Congress high command" had three modes of operation: disparage, destabilize, and dismiss, citing examples of state governments that had been "dismissed" in the past.

Mr. Modi stated that the government has transitioned from cooperative to "cooperative competitive federalism." The GST Council, he said, was a prime example of federalism because state finance ministers and the Union Finance Minister sat as equals and made decisions unanimously.

“Prime Minister took 23 meetings with Chief Ministers to develop a roadmap and take everyone along to frame policies. This is the country’s strength. They (without naming the Congress) should introspect that when an all-party meeting was held, attempts were made that some parties do not attend...You boycotted, even the Trinamool Congress attended, I don't know who your advisers are? Pick up the next day’s newspapers, your actions were criticized,” COVID-19, he claimed, was a "great period" for the federal government.

“He (Ambedkar) said federation is a union, for administrative purpose it could be divided into States, but Nation is one. Tall statements were given on federalism, have we forgotten how Chief Ministers were removed on flimsy grounds, a PM’s son did not like the arrangements at the airport so the then Andhra Chief Minister was removed, Karnataka’s Virendra Patil was removed while he was unwell. We do not have a myopic vision, we honour regional aspirations and do not see it is as a conflict. India will progress when regional aspirations are addressed. When States prosper, then the country progresses. What all didn’t happen with me when I was the chief minister? Even Gujarat was affected t. But as CM I always used to say that the State will be developed for the country’s sake. People who ruled the country for decades, the way they exploited the States, they brought President’s rule over 100 times and uprooted elected governments,” On federalism, he referred the members to Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

He said that the government has taken a number of efforts to empower women, including banning immediate triple talaq. He said that the decision benefited not only women but also "Muslim dads and brothers."

Mr. Modi questioned why there should be different ages for men and women when it came to the legal age to marry, adding that he hoped the House would make a decision on the matter soon.

He claimed that the country was commemorating the 60th anniversary of Goa's independence this year and that if Goa had followed Sardar Patel's strategy for Junagadh and Hyderabad, the state would not have remained under foreign rule for 15 years after India's independence.

He claimed that when freedom fighters in Goa were shot at, then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was only concerned about his international reputation and decided not to send the army. "The people of Goa will never forget the Congress's behavior," he remarked.

He claimed that the country was commemorating the 60th anniversary of Goa's independence this year and that if Goa had followed Sardar Patel's strategy for Junagadh and Hyderabad, the state would not have remained under foreign rule for 15 years after India's independence.

He claimed that when freedom fighters in Goa were shot at, then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was only concerned about his international reputation and decided not to send the army. "The people of Goa will never forget the Congress's behavior," he remarked.

“These centres detect cancer and diabetes in early stages and people receive help at local level. We allocated ₹64,000 crore to States before the Union Budget, had we included it in budget, it would have appeared grander,”

More than 80,000 wellness centers are operational under the Ayush ministry, he added.

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