Parliament Session highlights: Can’t hear the truth, says PM as Oppn stages walkout; Kharge hits back

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Upper House on Wednesday (July 3) after the Lok Sabha witnessed the government and the Opposition go nose-to-nose in a debate on Tuesday (July 2).

PM Narendra Modi wasspeaking in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on President's address and took jibes at the Opposition.

PM said that it's high time now that the Congress should accept the verdict of people and that NDA had won its third successive term in office.

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PM Modi attacks Congress over Manipur issue, said, "Stop politicising Manipur issue, one day Manipur will reject you."

- On the Opposition's walkout from Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge accused thePM of lying in his Rajya Sabha speech, "We walked out because the PM was addressing the House on the President's address and made some incorrect statements. It's his habit to lie and say things that are untrue. I simply asked him, when he was talking about the Constitution, that his people didn't create the Constitution—they were against it."

- "I was just clarifying who supported and opposed the Constitution. The RSS has opposed the Constitution. They burned effigies of BR Ambedkar and Pandit Nehru. He repeatedly claims that we disrespected BR Ambedkar, saying it both in the Lok Sabha and today. I wanted to highlight what Babasaheb said in the Constituent Assembly and what the RSS has written in the Organiser," Kharge added.

- PM Narendra Modi tooka jibe at Congress over Lok Sabha 2024 elections. He said,"With these election results, not only is there a surge in the capital market, but there is also an atmosphere of joy worldwide. Amid this, Congress people are also happy. I can't understand the reason for this joy. Is it joy for the hattrick of losses? Is it joy for falling to the nervous 90s? Is it joy for another failed launch? I even saw Kharge ji full of energy. Perhaps Kharge ji has served his party a lot because the blame for this loss, which should have been attributed to someone, was saved by him, and he stood like a wall instead. Whenever such a situation arises, a Dalit and backward have to bear the brunt, and that family remains safe. The same was seen here too."

- "You would have seen the issue with the Lok Sabha Speaker. There, too, their defeat was certain, but whom did they push forward? A Dalit. They knew he would lose, yet they fielded him. In the President and Vice President elections of 2022, they fielded Sushil Kumar Shinde; let the Dalit lose, they themselves have nothing to lose. In 2017, when defeat was certain, they fielded Meira Kumar. Congress has an anti-SC/ST/OBC mindset, due to which they kept humiliating former President Ram Nath Kovind. With this mindset, they left no stone unturned in insulting the first tribal woman President of the country and used words that no one else would," PM said.

- If this election was to save the Constitution, then the people of the nation chose us for it...1977 election saved the Constitution," PM said.

- PM Modi also raisedthe Bengal flogging incident, saying, "The Opposition's selective attitude on atrocities against women is very worrying...I have seen a video from Bengal on social media where a woman was being beaten...The incident which happened in Sandeshkhali....But even the senior leaders (of the opposition) have not said a word about it."

- Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticised the Opposition, saying that despite the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) being given a chance to speak, they have insulted the constitution.

- "I urged them that the LoP was given adequate time to speak without any interruptions. Today, they did not leave the House behind, they have left behind dignity. Today, they did not show me their back, they showed it to the Constitution of India. They did not insult me or you, they insulted the oath of the Constitution that they took. There can be no bigger insult to the Constitution of India than this...I condemn their conduct...It is an occasion where they have challenged the Indian Constitution. They outraged the spirit of Indian Constitution, they have disregarded the oath they have undertaken...Indian Constitution is not something to hold in your hands, it is the book to way of life. I hope that they will self-introspect and walk the path of duty."

- "India has taken decisive steps towards women-led development and today we are its results. We have also worked in the areas of women's health, sanitation and wellness," PM Modi said while speaking in the Rajya Sabha.

- "Oppositionhasinsulted the Upper House. The country has defeated them andthey don't have any other option but to scream and shout. Slogans and chaos and running away is their fate now," PM Modi said.

- Opposition MPs protest, raise slogans and walk out as PM Modi speaks on Motion of Thanks to President's Address. The Opposition MPs say that the LoP was not allowed to speak and that he should be allowed for the same.

- As they walk out, PM Modi says, "The country is watching that those who spread lies do not have the strength to hear the truth. Those who do not have the courage to face truth, do not have courage to listen to the answers to questions were raised in these discussions. They are insulting the Upper House, the glorious tradition of the Upper House."

- "During Congress’tenure, there was a scheme for Rs 60,000 crore farmers' loan waiver but names of the needy small farmers were not even included in the list of beneficiaries," he said.

- The PM says, "I have always said– what we did in 10 years is only the appetiser. The main course starts now. The coming five years are about a decisive fight against poverty."

- "In the democratic journey of India, after many decades, the people of the country have chosen a government for the third consecutive time. But some people deliberately ignore this achievement, some people can't understand it, and some have tried to overshadow this important decision made by the people of this country," the PMsaid.

- "I would like to thank my friends in Congress. Who said this will be a 1/3rd government. They are right. We have had a government for 10 years, 20 more are yet to come. I hope it comes true," PM Modi said, while mocking Congress.

- "There have been many like me in whose family there was not even a sarpanch or pradhan – but they are serving the country in important positions. The reason: Dr Ambedkar’s constitution has given people like us a chance. The people also endorsed it," Modi said while addressing the Rajya Sabha.

(With inputs from agencies)