PM targets Rahul Gandhi on Rafale, his hug and wink in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took jibes at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his accusations on Rafale in the House during his valedictory address to the 16th Lok Sabha, even as he emphasised that people should elect a stable government which only would be capable of taking bold decisions.

“The reason why the world applauds India’s power is because of a government with a majority. It’s after over 30 years such a government was formed.” Modi said several fears were expressed when the NDA came to power in 2014. “It was said that there would be an earthquake but five years are coming to an end and no tremors took place. Planes were flown by some senior opposition leaders but those planes did not fly high,” Modi said.

When he entered the Lok Sabha in 2014, he was a first-time MP who did not know the nook and corner of Parliament House, Modi said and added that since then he has observed and learnt a lot. “One of the things I observed was that the plaque at the PM’s chair in the House has the names of only three former PMs,” he said, alluding to the Nehru-Gandhis.


The 16th Lok Sabha passed 203 bills, out of 219 introduced, including one on curbing black money, the PM said. “The 16th Lok Sabha members can boast of passing the bill to curb black money and corruption,” he said, adding, 1,400 obsolete legislations we r e re -pealed by the House. Some of the other bills passed include one on enemy property, benami property, IBC to deal with insolvent companies and GST bill.

The PM made light of Gandhi’s hug and wink in one of the sessions.

He said that he realised the difference between embracing each other and forcing oneself on somebody.

Using lines from a Bollywood song, Modi said he realised that eyes can play mischief. In a lighter vein, he said perhaps the recording of the laughter of some members heard in the House could be given to some filmmakers for use in movies. He underlined that members should maintain dignity.