Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha, critiquing the Congress party's historical record with references to Rajiv Gandhi's vision for the 21st century. He emphasized the need for progress, lamenting the delays in development and highlighting initiatives by his government to foster innovation and youth empowerment.Key Takeaways
- PM Modi critiques past Congress leadership.
- References R.K. Laxman's cartoon about the 21st century.
- Calls attention to delayed national development.
- Highlights government initiatives like Startup India.
- Focus on youth empowerment and innovation.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, responding to the discussion regarding the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. In a bold critique, PM Modi targeted the Opposition, particularly the historical record of the Congress party.
He referenced a famous cartoon from the 1980s, illustrating the time when the Congress government, led by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, frequently emphasized India's readiness for the 21st century.
While PM Modi did not explicitly name Rajiv Gandhi, his remarks were interpreted as a clear nod to the era when the former PM was vocal about the 21st century.
PM Modi recalled: "There was one Prime Minister who consistently talked about the 21st century... during that period, R.K. Laxman created a highly amusing cartoon. That cartoon was humorous at the time, but it later morphed into reality. It exemplified how that Prime Minister's words were ‘hawa hawai’ (meaningless talk) and out of touch with reality."
He illustrated how the cartoon showed an airplane labeled ‘An exciting trip to 21st Century’ being towed by a cart, emphasizing the glaring disparity between grand aspirations and the absence of real progress.
The PM continued: "We are nearly 40-50 years behind. The work that should have been executed years ago is now being fulfilled."
He further mentioned: "This is why, once the public entrusted us with power, we focused on youth development and nation-building."
According to the Prime Minister, the essential tasks for the nation's advancement should have been accomplished decades prior, but are only now being realized.
He criticized previous governments for making promises that remained unfulfilled, causing India to lag behind for several decades.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by his administration, he pointed to advancements in the space sector, the defense sector, and multiple efforts to encourage innovation.
"We introduced Startup India to foster innovation and devised new strategies to empower our youth to reach their potential," the Prime Minister concluded.
