New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a veiled jab at the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi,in the parliament and said that people who resort to “photo sessions” at the homes of the poor will find the discussion in Parliament about such deprived people boring.
In a reply to the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint session of parliament PM Modi said that those who get photo sessions done at the huts of poor people find talk on them boring.
Talking about the union government’s efforts in installing water taps in 12 crore houses, the PM added, “Our government has given tap water connections to 12 crore homes. We have worked so much for the welfare of the poor, and that is why the President also mentioned it in her speech.”
“If we have responsibility, then we cannot just identify the problem and leave it at that, we need to focus on finding solutions too,” PM Modi said.
Extending his criticism of Congress further, PM Modi also in a veiled reference to former PM Rajiv Gandhi said, “We had a PM, he wanted to be called Mr Clean, he understood the problem. He said if Rs1 leaves Delhi then only 15 paisa reaches the poor. Only one party ruled in states and the centre. This was pure loot, a very big ‘haath safai’.” the PM said.
“Our model is clear, Janata ka paisa, Janta ke liye (the public’s money is for the public itself),” the Prime Minister said.
Contrasting it with the efforts of the current government, he mentioned the government of India’s initiative, the “JAM Trinity,” which links Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhar cards, and Mobile numbers to give direct benefit transfers to people.
“We started giving DBT, Direct Benefit Transfer. We gave Rs 40 lakh crore in the bank accounts of people. But look at the previous governments, how it was run,” PM Modi said.
As the Opposition raised slogans and shouted during his speech, the PM hit back and said, “jabh zyada bukhar chadh jata hain tabh aadmi bahut bolta hain (people talk too much when they are disappointed).”
The Prime Minister said those who were not even born in India, were benefiting from different government schemes. “To make sure that there is no injustice done to the innocent, we did not care for political gains and losses and removed the names of 10 crore such frauds and started the initiative to take the schemes to genuine beneficiaries,” he said.
“Those who were not even Indians, not even part of this country, took advantage of the Indian funds. Without caring about political benefits or anything, we removed 10 crore such frauds and gave them to real beneficiaries after looking for them,” he said.