Congress biggest opponent of Constitution
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its last stage, and a multi-pronged strategy has been adopted to destroy the remaining terror network.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the prime minister emphasised that terror incidents have declined in the Union Territory in the last 10 years.
Terror and separatism are ending and the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir are leading this fight, he said.
“Our fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, in a way, is in last stage, last leg. We are moving with a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the remaining terror network there,” Modi said.
Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, the prime minister said that during the past several decades, shutdowns, strikes, terrorist threats and attempts to carry out bomb blasts have been kind of a dark shadow on democracy.
“This time people have decided their fate with unwavering faith in the Constitution. I especially congratulate the voters of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He also noted that tourism activities were on the rise and making new records and that investment too was increasing.
Modi highlighted that the voting figures in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir are going to break the records of the last four decades.
“They accept the Constitution of India, the democracy of India, the Election Commission of India. This is a huge success,” he said.
Launching a blistering attack on the Congress party, the Prime Minister accused it of being “the biggest opponent of the Constitution” and running a “fake narrative” to mislead the public.
He challenged the opposition’s claim that the recent 2024 elections were fought on the issue of “protecting the Constitution”. Reminding the House of the 1977 elections, Modi said it was fought for the protection of the Constitution following the Emergency. It was the first election fought for the protection of the Constitution, he asserted.
“People have more faith in us for the protection of the Constitution. Therefore, they gave us the mandate,” Modi said, criticising the Congress for its “hypocrisy” on the constitutional matters.
Modi accused the Congress of committing several constitutional improprieties during its tenure, including extending the Lok Sabha term to seven years during the Emergency and creating the National Advisory Council (NAC) when in power.
He also questioned the constitutional basis for these actions and criticised the party for prioritising one family over established protocols.
The Prime Minister also called out Congress allies, particularly those representing backward communities, for aligning with a party which he accused of having a poor record on the constitutional matters.
He suggested that these alliances were born out of political opportunism rather than genuine concern for constitutional values.
Modi also said that the Congress, lacking popular support, was resorting to “fake narratives” and “fake videos” to mislead the country.
He criticised the opposition for focusing on a “save corruption campaign” instead of engaging in discussions on development vision.
Modi’s attack on the Congress in the Upper House took an unexpected turn when the Opposition staged a walkout midway through his speech. This prompted sharp reactions from both the Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Modi accused the Opposition of lacking the courage to face the truth and listen to responses to issues they had raised.
“The country is watching — those who spread lies do not have the courage to listen to the truth,” he said, adding that the Opposition was insulting the traditions of the Upper House.
Dhankhar expressed his disappointment, calling the Opposition’s behaviour “painful and indecent”. He emphasized that the walkout was not just a rejection of the proceedings, but a disregard for their constitutional oath.
The Prime Minister continued his address, touching upon several sensitive issues.
He criticized the Opposition’s selective approach to atrocities against women, citing recent incidents in West Bengal.
Modi expressed concerns over the politicisation of such issues and the silence of certain leaders when cases involve their own party or state.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of consistently fielding Dalit candidates in elections that they were likely to lose, including recent Speaker elections and the 2022 and 2017 Presidential and Vice Presidential polls.
He suggested this was a pattern of using Dalit and backward community members as scapegoats while protecting the interests of a particular family.
Throughout his speech, Modi maintained that the Opposition’s actions stemmed from their inability to accept the mandate given by the people to the NDA government. He reiterated his commitment to serving the nation and providing a detailed account of his government’s work.
‘I’ve given full freedom to agencies to take strongest action against corruption’: PM
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday vowed further crackdown on corruption and black money, saying the government has given “full freedom” to the probe agencies for taking strongest action against the corrupt.
The prime minister said no one will be spared in the crackdown.
He also took pot shot at the Congress for first levelling serious allegations with evidence against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later forming an alliance with it to fight the Lok Sabha elections.
Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, Modi asserted that taking action against corruption is a mission for the NDA government and not a matter of electoral gains.
“I want to state without hesitation and also tell the countrymen that I have given full freedom to the agencies to take the strongest action against the corrupt and corruption. The government will not interfere anywhere,” the prime minister said.
“Yes, they (probe agencies) should work honestly for honesty. No person embroiled in corruption will be able to escape the law. This is Modi’s guarantee,” the prime minister said.
Referring to the opposition members’ charge that the government is misusing the probe agencies, Modi cited statements made by opposition leaders like late Mulayam Singh Yadav who had accused the UPA government of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against them. He also said even the Supreme Court had termed the CBI as a “caged parrot”.
“Allegations have been made against the central investigative agencies. It has been said that the central government is misusing the investigative agencies.
“The AAP commits liquor scam, the AAP commits corruption, the AAP commits scam in building classrooms for children, the AAP even commits water scam… The Congress complains against the AAP. The Congress drags the AAP to court and if action is taken then they abuse Modi,” the prime minister said.
Modi said the Congress had presented so many proofs of AAP’s scams before the country in a press conference. The Congress should now answer whether those proofs were true or false, he said.
Now the AAP and the Congress have become partners, he said, and dared the AAP to demand an answer from the Congress.
Modi asserted that he had vowed in 2014, when the BJP came into power at the Centre, that the government will work for the welfare of the poor and also take actions against corruption and black money.
“Action against corruption is a mission for us. It is not a matter of victory or defeat in elections for us,” he added.