Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, the Prime Minister touched upon a host of issues raised by the INDIA bloc. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Facing an unrelenting attack by the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally opened up on Manipur in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and said that violence in the Northeast state is continuously declining. He slammed the Opposition for "politicising the issue” and said that Manipur will "soon reject the Congress" for "spreading hate".

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, the Prime Minister touched upon a host of issues raised by the INDIA bloc, particularly the Congress and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. On Manipur, he said that violence in the state is continuously declining, schools have reopened in most parts and efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the state.

“More than 500 people have been arrested and over 11,000 FIRs have been registered in Manipur... Both the Central and state governments are talking to everyone there for opening the door to peace," Mr Modi said, adding that in the wake of the flood situation in the state, the Centre has dispatched two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Manipur.

Invoking the 1975-77 Emergency to counter the Congress party’s repeated claim that the BJP plans to change the Constitution, Mr Modi said, "I want to remind them. Will you continue this fake narrative? Have you forgotten the 1977 elections, when newspapers and radio were shut down? There was no freedom of speech. People then voted on the issues of re-establishing the Constitution and protecting the Constitution."

It was the first election fought for the protection of the Constitution, he asserted.

"People have more faith in us for the protection of the Constitution. Therefore, they gave us the mandate," Mr Modi said, criticising the Congress for its "hypocrisy" on constitutional matters and doing the "drama" of protecting the Constitution during polls. He said that for his party, the Constitution is not just a compilation of articles; its spirit and words are very important too. The Constitution is like a lighthouse that shows his government the direction," Mr Modi said.

The stinging attack by Mr Modi infuriated the INDIA bloc parties, who shouted slogans and called him a "liar". Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge sought to intervene but was not allowed, leading to the Opposition MPs trying to drown out Mr Modi's speech by raising slogans. Later, they walked out of the House.

The sloganeering did not deter Mr Modi, who continued his speech and said the Congress is running away as it does not have the courage to hear the truth.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also condemned the walkout, calling it an insult to the Constitution.

In his nearly two-hour-long speech, the Prime Minister listed out his previous government's achievements. From raising the minimum support price for crops to giving the poor access to the banking system and loans to fueling India's rise to become the fifth largest economy in the world, Mr Modi highlighted several accomplishments.

With development and self-reliance as pivots, the Prime Minister further said, "India will "definitely" become the third largest economy in the world in his third term."

Mr Modi said the Opposition is "unable to digest" the mandate given by 140-crore people to the NDA. "I understand your pain," he said, targeting the Opposition.

He also attacked the Congress allies, saying they too were the victims of the excesses committed during the Emergency, but have now joined hands for political opportunism.

The Prime Minister also spoke on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams and asserted that tough action will be taken against those involved in paper leaks.

"We wanted that there should be no politics on a sensitive issue like the paper leak, but the Opposition is used to it. I assure the youth of India that action is being taken to ensure that those who play with the future of youths are handed down strict punishment," he said.

The Prime Minister vowed further crackdown on corruption and black money, saying the government has given "full freedom" to probe agencies for taking the strongest action against the corrupt and no one will be spared.

"I want to state without hesitation and also tell the people of the country that I have given full freedom to agencies to take the strongest action against the corrupt and corruption. The government will not interfere anywhere," the Prime Minister said.

"Yes they (probe agencies) should work honestly. No person embroiled in corruption will be able to escape the law. This is Modi's guarantee," the PM said.
Rejecting the charge that the government is misusing probe agencies, Mr Modi cited statements made by the Opposition leaders, like the late Mulayam Singh Yadav who had accused the UPA government of using the ED and the CBI against them.

He also took potshots at the Congress party for levelling serious allegations with evidence against the AAP and then forming an alliance with it to fight the Lok Sabha elections.

"The AAP commits the liquor scam, the AAP commits corruption, the AAP commits scam in building classrooms for children, the AAP even commits water scam… the Congress complains against the AAP, the Congress drags the AAP to court and if action is taken then they abuse Modi," he said.
He also accused the Opposition of selective outrage on atrocities against women, saying none of them said a word about the public flogging of a woman in West Bengal.