Not name changers, we are aim chasers: Six points from PM Narendra Modi's Rajya Sabha speech

After PM Modi's 90-minute address in the Lok Sabha, his Rajya Sabha motion of thanks speech began by taking a jibe at the Congress party. He said since no one listens to the Congress party outside parliament, most of its leaders were involved in highlighting their previous achievements. He invoked Mahatma Gandhi and anti-sikh riots to attack Congress.

He said that Ayushman Bharat scheme should not be compared with such similar schemes in Britain and America s every nation has its own context, challenges and nature of working. Modi said, "You were speaking about Ayushman Bharat and gave the example of US and Britain, there is a vast difference between them and our society but of course being in power for more than 50 years you get cut off from the ground."

PM categorically said," We are always looking for suggestions, feedback and input on our schemes. After all, we are working for the nation and the poor."


Earlier in the day, his Lok Sabha speech began by directly accusing the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty of dividing India at independence. PM criticized the Congress for brainwashing people into thinking the Congress, and especially Jawaharlal Nehru, brought democracy to India. He said that democracy "is in the blood of Indians" and cited the golden age of Lichchavi rule in eastern India and of Kannada social reformer Basava's teachings.

PM took on Congress for alleging BJP for being name changers and not game changers. He said, "You said we are name changers and not game changers but if you notice our mode of operation and working pattern you will realise we are aim changers. We plan our action, set the road map so that we take the nation on the path to development."

PM reiterated that all previous governments had equally contributed towards India's development. Highlighting few contributions and neglecting others is not fair.

PM Modi clearly reminded Congress that LK Advani's Rajya Sabha in 1998 laid the foundation of Aadhaar . Recollecting the just concluded Gujarat election, he said, he felt glad as Sardar Patel found a mention on every Congress poster.

PM said that behavioural changes is one of the issues with Swachh Bharat and several studies have showed it, that's why the government is trying to educate people. "All states will have to work together to bring about a change," PM Modi said.


These are few areas in which the PM had emphasised in his speech:

1. Look at what all you mocked - Swachh Bharat, Make in India, surgical strikes, Yoga Day. You are free to mock as you please but why are you blocking the bill for OBC Commission?
2. If you feel so strongly about bringing changes to Triple Talaq Bill, then you should have brought the law yourself, when you were in power for so many years: Keep women empowerment above politics.
3. You sent Hindu men to jail for marrying twice, but you have a problem sending a Muslim man to jail (on triple talaq).
4. You call us name changers and blame us for all failures, but why don’t you take credit for massive unemployment in your tenure?
5. The credit should go to Congress for misleading everyone on One Rank One Pension for army personnel for over 40 years. The credit should go to Congress for starting more than 1,500 railway projects, which never started.
6. Congress keeps saying we brought Aadhaar. Let me remind them about a debate in the Rajya Sabha in 1998 and what LK Advani Ji said. It is in his speech that you will find the genesis of Aadhaar.