Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t hold back in his response to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. He took aim at Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and didn’t spare Rahul Gandhi either, asserting that the opposition couldn’t muzzle his voice, which has been reinforced by the people of India.
“The Congress is stuck in outdated thinking, hence they’ve outsourced their work,” said the Prime Minister, addressing Kharge’s recent statement regarding the NDA’s prospects of securing 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
“I am grateful for the blessings of those 400 seats for the NDA… your blessings are upon me,” he quipped, referring to Kharge’s earlier remarks.
Kharge in his remarks had referred to the BJP election slogan “abki baar 400 par”. “With a current majority of 330-334 seats, this time it…will be above 400…,” he said.
However, Kharge later clarified his statement, saying that the BJP will not win even 100 seats in the forthcoming polls.
PM Modi also took a jibe at Kharge’s lengthy speech during the debate, humorously alluding to a popular Bollywood song, ‘Aisa mauka phir kahan milega.’
“Mallikarjun Kharge spoke at length in the Rajya Sabha, and I wondered how he managed such an opportunity,” the Prime Minister said. “But then I realized that two special commanders were absent, so he seized the moment. Perhaps Kharge ji must have had that song, ‘Aisa mauka phir kahan milega,’ playing in his mind,” he added.
“I could not say it that day but I express my special gratitude to Khargeji. I was listening to him with great attention and enjoyment that day. The lack of entertainment that we were missing in the Lok Sabha was fulfilled by him,” PM Modi said, apparently referring to the absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is leading the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
PM Modi also targeted opposition members who were interrupting his speech.
“I remember the incident from last year. We used to sit in that building and attempts were made to stifle the voices of the PM of the country…Today too, you have come prepared to not listen. But you can’t suppress my voice. People of the country have strengthened this voice…I too have come prepared this time,” he said.