Today was the last day of the budget session and the conclusion of the 16th Lok Sabha ahead of the 2019 general elections. While the 13-day Budget session was almost a washout in the Rajya Sabha as Opposition parties stalled proceedings daily over issues ranging from Rafale fighter jet deal to Citizenship Bill, the Lok Sabha saw an undisturbed session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the house, remembered that in 2014 he was among the parliamentarians who were in parliament for the first time. Narendra Modi began his speech by remembering when BJP formed the government in 2014, the country after three decades saw a government being formed with a complete majority.
Before talking about other things, Modi applauded the speaker Sumitra Mahajan for conducting at least 8 sessions of the Lok Sabha, that saw 100 per cent performance.
The 16th Lok Sabha would be remembered because this is the first time that there are so many women ministers in the cabinet, affirmed Modi. While confirming that his cabinet has 44 women ministers which have been by far, the highest in terms of numbers, he applauded the work, participation and level of confidence the women ministers in his cabinet have done and shown in these years.
Modi said that this was the first time in India’s democratic history that the defence portfolio and the ministry of external affairs were being handled by women and it was the first time that India ever saw a woman on the Lok Sabha speaker chair and as the Lok Sabha security general, which Modi said is extremely praiseworthy and something to be proud of.
PM Modi said that he is proud that in the last five years India has become the world’s 6th largest economy and is in the process of becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy soon. He gave credit to all the members of the party who have worked relentlessly over the years to achieve this accomplishment.
Today India is full self-confidence which is important for any country to grow and fight any odd, said Modi.
PM Modi proceeded to specify the country’s attainments in the last five years.
- India has made its space in the digital world.
- The world is discussing global warming and India made an effort in the form of the International Solar Alliance to mitigate this menace. The maximum number of the satellite was launched during these five years.
- India is increasingly becoming self-dependent. Make in India is one such initiative taken by the government, said Modi.
- A new aspect has emerged in the way India deals with foreign relations. The world recognises a government formed with full majority, and the world recognises such leaders who have a full mandate. Modi applauded and credited all these accomplishments to the citizens of India who unanimously in 2014 brought BJP to power.
- India was recognised and heard in several foreign states.
- Bangladesh’s land dispute issue was resolved by this cabinet in the Lok Sabha, which was itself a very big accomplishment, stressed Modi and thanked everyone responsible for this attainment.
- This is about how we are very sensitive about human rights, said Modi. Whether it’s about the earthquake in Nepal, the water crisis in the Maldives or similar issues with our neighbouring countries. India has played an important role when it comes to exhibiting its benevolence, which has been recognised throughout the world.
Modi further said that India has made a substantial place for itself in the world. He acquainted the house with the fact that, in a first, the resolution on the importance of Yoga was passed in the United Nation (UN) with a maximum majority, which in itself is a great achievement for the country. Modi added that not only in the UN but the various country’s throughout the world celebrated 125th Baba Ambedkar’s birth anniversary and 150th Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, which is also is a major recognition for India.
Modi said that approximately 219 bills were introduced in Lok Sabha during these 5 years of Modi Government, out of which 203 bills were passed.
It is this Lok Sabha that passed the GST. The GST process revealed the spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship. This Lok Sabha, during BJP’s tenure, passed the strict black money act which helped the government to bring back the black money stacked abroad, laws against benami property, IBC law, Fugitive offenders act were passed here, he specified.
These strong laws against corruption, which the other political parties could not dare to introduce, were formulated by the BJP government and Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards Lok Sabha and the speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, without whose support and guidance implementing such tough and stringent laws would not have been possible, said Modi.
It is this house which passed the Aadhar bill. The Aadhar Bill, he said, is in itself a major achievement and it has got recognition from the entire world who have been praising this major breakthrough.
The 10 percent reservation for poor, which is a big boost in the country’s development, was also passed in the Lok Sabha, and it was worth acclamation, the prime minister added. Similarly, bills regarding the OBC act or the SC-ST act or the maternity benefits were applaudable.
Modi said that his government had extended the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, which in itself is a big achievement and projects India as a country with a progressive mindset, he affirmed.
Over 1400 redundant laws were done away with, Modi informed the house.
Modi spoke about the small tiffs and arguments which preceded in the House between oppositions and as a member of the house and a member of the ruling party, Modi sought forgiveness.
In an enthralling tone, Modi used the Jain ritual, ‘Micchami Dukkaḍaṃ’, an ancient Indian phrase, which is translated from Prakrit to literally mean “may all the evil that has been done be fruitless,” practised on Samvatsari – the last day of Paryushan, to seek forgiveness on behalf of his party members, for any misconceptions or mistakes or inappropriate words used in the heat of the argument in the last five years in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions.
There have been confrontations with Mallikarjun Kharge. I wish he was not having a bad throat today. Conversations with him helped me stir my thought process, for which I deeply thank him, said Modi.
Modi thanked Samajwadi Party patriarch, Mulayam Singh, with folded hands, who wished Narendra Modi a second term as the Prime Minister.
While concluding his speech Modi unleashed his wit and took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi saying, “Also, this is the first time when I realised the difference between an embrace and people trying to be clingy (gale lagna aur gale padna). Also, the “Ankhon ki gustakhiyan“ ( referring to Rahul Gandhi’s famous wink during the Lok Sabha sessions) had amused the foreign media too, said Modi.
He ended by thanking everyone in the House, the staff members who worked relentlessly over the years and wished well for all the political party’s who are heading for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
