Modi criticises opposition and calls attempt to suppress PM’s voice undemocratic | News from India

“I would like to say to all MPs, regardless of which party they belong to, that we have been fighting a bitter election campaign since January. We have conveyed to the people what we wanted to convey. Some have shown the way, others have led us astray. But that phase is now over. The people have passed their judgment,” he said.

“Now it is the responsibility of all elected representatives and all political parties. We have fought for our respective parties and now we have to fight and campaign for the country in the next five years,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister called on political parties to transcend party lines and use the platform of Parliament over the next four to four and a half years.

“In January 2029, when it is election year, you can go to the polls and even use Parliament for that. Play the games you want in those six months, but till then work to empower the poor, farmers, youth and women by building a people’s participation movement to fulfil the dream of 2047,” Modi said.

“I note with great sadness that after 2014, some MPs were elected for five years and others for ten years, but many were not given the chance to speak about their constituency and share their views in Parliament because some parties pursued negative politics and abused Parliament to cover up their political failings,” he said.

Modi urged all parties to provide first-time MPs with opportunities to address the House and provide them with opportunities.

That is what you saw in the first session of this Lok Sabha. There was an undemocratic attempt to suppress the voice of the government which was instructed to serve by 1.4 billion Indians. For two and a half hours there was an attempt to suppress the voice of the Prime Minister and such a thing has no place in democratic traditions. They have no remorse for it, Modi said.

His remarks were apparently a reference to the incident in the last session when Modi delivered his reply in the debate on the motion of thanks for the President’s address amid loud protests and slogans from the opposition demanding that both MPs from Manipur be allowed to speak.

“People have sent us here for Desh, not for Dal. This Parliament is not for ‘Dal (party)’, but for ‘Desh (country).’ This Parliament is not limited to MPs, but it is for the 1.4 billion people of the country,” he stressed.

Modi hoped that all MPs would contribute to the debate.

He said there is nothing wrong with opposing views, but negative views are wrong. The country does not need negativity, he said.

“We have to move the country forward with the ideology of development and progress,” Modi said.

He also said that the monsoon session was an important milestone in the proud journey of our democracy.

“It is a matter of great pride for me personally and for all our colleagues that after nearly 60 years, a government has come back to power for the third time and has the honour of presenting the first third-term budget. The country considers this a very proud occasion in the glorious journey of Indian democracy,” he said.

Modi said his government was doing everything it could to implement the guarantees he had given to the people on the ground.

“We are moving forward with the aim of implementing the assurances I have given to the people of the country in a phased manner. This budget is an important budget of Amrit Kaal. We have a chance of five years and this budget will determine the direction of our work for these five years and also lay a solid foundation for the fulfilment of our dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047 when we celebrate 100 years of independence,” he said.

He stressed that India is the fastest growing country among major economies, with growth of about eight percent for the last three consecutive years.

Given the positive outlook, investment and performance, the opportunities are greatest today, he said.

The Prime Minister expressed his confidence that all Members of Parliament will contribute to fruitful discussions.

Modi also expressed his confidence that this temple of democracy will be used to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of common citizens.