PM Modi in Lok Sabha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of consistently disrespecting the Constitution and offered eleven pledges for India’s bright future, saying the government and the people must perform their duties and The country’s politics should be free from “familism”. ,
Responding to the two-day discussion in the Lok Sabha on the completion of 75 years of the Constitution, PM Modi repeatedly mentioned the Nehru-Gandhi family and accused every generation of its leaders of disrespecting the Constitution. He said, “The Congress has consistently insulted the Constitution. It has tried to diminish its importance. The history of the Congress is full of such examples.”
PM Modi said that India is the mother of democracy, the Constitution is the foundation of India’s unity and democracy and the Constitution have become stronger under the rule of the BJP-led government. He took a jibe at Congress over its ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan as the “biggest jumla” and said his government’s mission is to free the poor from their hardships. He said, “If we follow our fundamental duties, no one can stop us from developing.”
Describing the achievement of 75 years as an extraordinary achievement, the Prime Minister expressed pride that the Constitution has brought us all to this point, overcoming all the foreseeable possibilities soon after India’s independence and the challenges that followed.
PM Modi remarked that the framers of the Constitution never supported the view that India was born in 1947 and they believed in and were proud of the great tradition and heritage of India and its democracy. He said that India’s democratic and republican past has always been remarkable and an inspiration to the world and hence, he said that “India is known as the mother of democracy”.
The Prime Minister appreciated the role of women during the Constitution making process. “The representation and contribution of women, be it social, political, education, sports or any other field, is making the country proud,” he said.
Saying that India is progressing rapidly, PM Modi remarked that soon India will be the third largest economy in the world. He said it was the joint resolve of 140 crore Indians to ensure that India develops by 2047 and stressed on promoting unity. He highlighted that unity in diversity has been the identity of India and stressed that the country’s progress lies in celebrating this diversity.
Criticizing the Congress for imposing the Emergency, he said the country had been turned into a prison, citizens’ rights were taken away and freedom of the press was curbed. Taking aim at the Congress, he said that from 1947 to 1952, there was no elected government in India, but a temporary, selected government in which no elections were held. He highlighted that before 1952, the Rajya Sabha was not constituted, and there were no state elections, meaning there was no mandate from the people.
He said that despite this, in 1951, without an elected government, an ordinance was issued to amend the Constitution, attacking the freedom of expression. The Prime Minister emphasized that this was an insult to the framers of the Constitution, as such matters were not addressed in the Constituent Assembly. He remarked that when the opportunity arose, he attacked freedom of speech, which was a serious insult to the framers of the Constitution. The Prime Minister said that what could not be achieved in the Constituent Assembly was done through the back door by an unelected Prime Minister, which was a sin.
PM Modi highlighted that in 1971, when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, a Supreme Court decision was overturned by amending the Constitution by clipping the wings of the judiciary. He said the amendment states that Parliament can change any article of the Constitution without judicial review, which will remove the powers of the courts. He said this helped the then government to curtail fundamental rights and control the judiciary.
The Prime Minister said that during the Emergency the Constitution was misused and democracy was strangled. He emphasized that the 39th Amendment was passed in 1975, preventing any court from challenging the elections of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Speaker and it was applied retroactively to cover past actions. Was implemented. He remarked that the idea of a committed judiciary has been fully implemented. The Prime Minister said Justice HR Khanna, who had ruled against the then Prime Minister in a court case, was denied the post of Chief Justice of India despite his seniority. He emphasized that this is a violation of constitutional and democratic processes.
Referring to Rajiv Gandhi’s reign as Prime Minister, PM Modi recalled the Supreme Court’s decision in the Shah Bano case and said that justice was provided to an Indian woman based on the dignity and spirit of the Constitution.
PM Modi said that the Supreme Court gave her due rights to an elderly woman, but the then Prime Minister rejected this sentiment, abandoning the essence of the Constitution. The Prime Minister remarked that Parliament once again passed a law to overturn a Supreme Court decision. He also took a dig at the Congress over the National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi when the Congress-led UPA was in power.
The Prime Minister remarked that the Constitution had been dealt a severe blow. He said that the framers of the Constitution had envisioned an elected government and a Prime Minister. However, a non-constitutional entity, the National Advisory Council, which took no oath, was “placed above the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)” and noted that this entity was given an informal status above the PMO.
Recalling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s decision to tear down the decision taken by the then cabinet at a media briefing, PM Modi alleged that these people “habitually play with the Constitution and do not respect it”. He said that it was unfortunate that the then cabinet later changed its decision.
The Prime Minister said that Article 370 is well known, but very few people know about Article 35A. He emphasized that Article 35A was imposed without parliamentary approval, which should have been sought. He said that Parliament, the primary guardian of the Constitution, was sidelined and Article 35A was imposed on the country, which created challenges in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that this was done through a presidential order by keeping Parliament in the dark.
He recalled his government’s efforts to build memorials and other facilities at places associated with the memory of Dr. BR Ambedkar. PM Modi said the Constituent Assembly extensively discussed the UCC and decided that it would be best for the elected government to implement it. He said that this was the instruction of the Constituent Assembly. The Prime Minister remarked that Dr. Ambedkar advocated UCC, and his words should not be misrepresented. He stressed that in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution and the intentions of its framers, the Government is fully committed to the establishment of a secular civil code.
PM Modi said that many changes brought in the Constitution by Congress were selfish and BJP has made changes in the interest of the people and marginalized communities. Speaking on the amendment to the Constitution to remove Article 370, PM Modi highlighted that he has fulfilled the promise made by Mahatma Gandhi and other senior leaders at the time of partition to take care of minorities in neighboring countries during the crisis. Make laws to do so also. He stressed that he introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to honor this commitment and said that he proudly supports this law, as it is in line with the spirit of the Constitution and strengthens the nation. .
PM Modi remarked that the constitutional amendments made by his government were aimed at correcting past mistakes and paving the way for a brighter future. He highlighted that time will tell whether they stand the test of time or not. The Prime Minister emphasized that these amendments were not motivated by selfish power interests but were acts of virtue for the benefit of the country. He said this is why he confidently addresses any questions raised.
Referring to providing free ration to the poor, PM Modi highlighted that 25 crore people have successfully overcome poverty. The Prime Minister offered 11 pledges at the end of his speech in the Lok Sabha. He stressed on inclusive growth and zero-tolerance towards corruption. He wished that the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution would further strengthen the commitment of the people towards their duties.
“For the future of India and inspired by the spirit of the Constitution, I present 11 pledges from the hallowed premises of Parliament. Be it a citizen or a government, everyone must perform their duties; every section of society, every section There should be benefits from this.” The matter of development should be ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
“There should be zero tolerance towards corruption and there should be no social acceptance to the corrupt. People should feel proud to follow the laws, rules, traditions of the country…there should be a sense of pride,” he said. Underlining the fifth resolution, PM Modi said that there should be freedom from the mentality of slavery and people should feel proud of the country’s heritage.
“The country should be free from dynastic politics, there should be respect for the Constitution and it should not be made an instrument of political expediency,” he said. “Reflecting devotion to the spirit of the Constitution, the benefits of reservation should not be taken away from those who deserve them and all efforts to provide reservation on the basis of religion should be stopped.”
The Prime Minister said that India should become an example of women-led development in the world. “Development of the country through development of states should be our development mantra,” he said. Underlining the 11th resolution, the Prime Minister said that the goal of ‘One India, Best India’ should be above everything else.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said that the dream of building a developed India is the dream of all our 140 crore countrymen. “Let us move forward with the spirit of ‘We, the People…’ which is the foundation of our Constitution. The dream of building a developed India is the dream of all 140 crore citizens.”
Remember, when a country moves forward with determination, results are guaranteed. I have great faith in my fellow citizens, their capabilities, the youth and the women power of India. Let us resolve that when India celebrates 100 years of its independence in 2047, it will be celebrated and appreciated as a ‘developed India’,” he said.
