‘Country does not want slogans, it wants substance… needs responsible Opposition’: PM Modi ahead of Parliament session

PM Modi’s remarks are significant as the BJP’s tally in the 18th Lok Sabha is much below the majority mark and the party is dependent on support from its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This is the first time that Modi is heading a coalition government.

“Today is a day of pride in parliamentary democracy, it is a day of glory. For the first time after Independence, this oath is being taken in our new parliament, till now this process used to happen in the old Parliament,” Modi said.

“For the second time after Independence, a government has got the opportunity to serve the country for the third time in a row, this opportunity has come after 60 years which is a matter of pride,” Modi said.

“If the citizens of our country have trusted a government for the third consecutive time, it means they have given a stamp of approval to the policies and intent of the government,” he said.

“The people of the country have given us an opportunity for the third time. Our responsibility has increased three times… so I assure the countrymen that in our third term, we will work three times harder and get three times the results,” he added.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, Modi said, “The people of the country do not want drama, ruckus. The country does not want slogans, it wants substance. The country needs a good Opposition, a responsible Opposition.”

“Parliament sessions are an opportunity for us to realise the dreams of Indian citizens. It is an opportunity for us to build Shreshtha Bharat and achieve our goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” Modi said.

Referring to the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, Modi said, “Tomorrow is 25 June, 50 years ago on this day a black spot was put on the Constitution. We will try [to ensure] that such a stain never comes to the country.”

Opposition will keep raising voice of the people in the House: Mallikarjun Kharge

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech, Congress chief Mallikarun Kharge wrote on X, “You are reminding us of the 50-year-old Emergency, but have forgotten the last 10 years of Undeclared Emergency, which was ended by the people.”

“People have given their mandate against Modi ji. Despite this, if he has become the Prime Minister, then he should work,” he said.

“‘People need substance, not slogans’ – remember this yourself. The opposition and INDIA Janbandhan want Consensus in Parliament, we will keep raising the voice of the people in the House, on the streets and before everyone,” Kharge added.

“He (PM Modi) will show some sympathy towards the youth regarding the paper leak in NEET and other recruitment examinations, but he did not take any responsibility for the massive rigging and corruption of his government,” the Congress president said.

Kharge questioned the PM’s silence on a range of issues, such as the recent train accident in West Bengal, the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the floods in the Northeast, the “exit polls-stock market scam” and the caste census.