Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made his maiden speech in Parliament, replying to the debate on motion of thanks to President’s address. In his hour-long speech, Modi outlined the priorities of his govt, reached out to the opposition and took a dig at his rivals. Here are the 15 main points of Modi’s speech.
1. Will change India’s image
“Our country has earned a reputation for scam India. We will have to transform this into skilled India. There is an urgent need for manpower in the world. Our neighbour China is getting older and we are getting younger. Our priority should be skill development in the youth.”
2. Don’t do ‘psychological analysis’ of rape
“I appeal to our political leaders that we should not carry out psychological analysis of rape … Is it correct to make a statement always? Why can’t we just keep quiet. Respect and security for women should be the topmost priority of the entire people.”
3. We won’t be arrogant
“Victory gives lessons and we must learn. It teaches us humility. We would take the blessings of seniors so that we are saved from becoming arrogant”.
4. Will take opposition along
“We can bring about change. I don’t want to move forward without you (Opposition). I don’t have to move forward on the basis of numbers but on the basis of collective decision- making. If necessary, we will move forward with your guidance.”
5. Will rein in prices
“We have promised to control inflation. We are determined achieve this target. We will do this (control inflation) not only because it is our election promise but we want every poor to have access to food. This is the collective responsibility of all of us”.
6. Will welcome criticism
“We welcome criticism. The more the criticism, the better it is … It is for the welfare of the country … In a democracy, criticism gives strength and it will guide us.”
7. Will focus on skill development
“There is an urgent need for manpower in the world. Our neighbour China is getting older and we are getting younger. Our priority should be skill development in the youth.”
8. Will provide houses to all by 2022
“Let it be a 10-12 year long programme … make it a movement. On 75 years of independence, we will remember all the great heroes of our country and give the houses to all.”
9. Will work for ‘clean India’
“Mahatma Gandhi laid great emphasis on cleanliness. His ashrams too focused on the same. Let us pledge we will give a ‘Clean India’ as a gift to our father of the nation on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019.”
10. Will work for minorities
“If one organ of the body remains weak, the body cannot be termed as healthy. We are committed to this. We don’t see it as appeasement.”
11. Will fulfil all promises
“It is understood that people will have doubts … But I assure this House that the path mentioned by the President, we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil them. For us, the President’s address is part of tradition … The words are like a divine address and to fulfill them it will be our endeavour, and it will also inspire us to work.”
12. Will work with states
“We don’t believe in big brother attitude (towards states). We believe in cooperative federalism.”
13. Will promote modern technique in agriculture sector
“There is a need for modernization of farming practices. Faster we bring in technology, better it would be for productivity because the number of people is increasing but the land is shrinking. We have to increase the soil productivity. For this, we need to expand the research work in our universities. It has been so many years, there has been no research on pulses. Pulses (production) has become challenge before us.”
14. Will convert endeavour for development into a mass movement
“Mahatma Gandhi had made the freedom struggle into a mass movement. Even a sweeper sweeping the floor used to think he was working for the freedom of the country. The same emotion should reflect in the cause for development. Development should become a mass movement,”
15. Will work for poor and as custodian of people’s hope
“We will work towards doing everything stated in our agenda. The government belongs to the poor people of the country. We are custodian of people’s hope. For whom should the government be? For educated people or few others. Government should be for the poor. If rich want to educate their children, they can send anywhere. If rich fall ill, hundreds of doctors are at service. So the foremost responsibility of the government should be to listen to the poor and work for them. If we do not work for the poor, the people will never pardon us.”
Source: UNB Connect
