GAUGING the mood of the nation on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narenda Modi is not only sure of winning by a 400-plus majority, but determined to take epochal decisions during his third term in power.
“In the first term, we kept filling the potholes of UPA, in the second term we laid the foundation of a new India,” he said, adding, “Our third term will witness very big decisions, lay strong foundation for next 1,000 years.”
Speaking for the first time in the current Budget session of Parliament, PM Modi said in any nation’s history, there is a time when it breaks old barriers and takes steps with new vision and energy.
Foundation for ‘next 1,000 years’
Development focus
The Prime Minister described the current era of the 21st century as an opportunity for India to fulfill its dreams and exhorted Members of Parliament to fulfil their responsibility by collectively focusing on development and meeting the aspirations of the people. “This timeframe is really important. What will happen now will affect the country for 1,000 years and lay the foundations for that long,” he reminded the MPs.
This is for the first time an Indian Prime Minister has projected such a long-term civilisational vision for the country. PM Modi had earlier talked of making India a developed nation by 2047 at the end of the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal (100 years of India’s Independence).
Modi’s Guarantee
As New India continues its strides in all spheres – economic, cultural, science & technology and energising its youth and women power – the entire world is watching in awe.
Like the vast majority of citizen of India, statesmen and leaders across the world know that it’s not mere rhetoric; it’s Modi’s Guarantee.
As PM Modi recalled in Parliament, after 30 years, a majority Government was formed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance under him in 2014.
Its performance enthused the people, who gave it another opportunity in 2019. Exuding confidence that his Government will return to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi declared that the BJP alone would get at least 370 seats and that the NDA would cross the 400-seat mark. The Congress, he said, is destined to sit in the Opposition for several more years.
Article 370 abolition
The figure of 370 was also a play on the abolition of Article 370 of the Constitution by the Modi Government in 2019. He also said that many of the problems the country and Jammu and Kashmir faced were due to the mishandling by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Flagging, what he called, the Congress’ politics of negativism, PM Modi said: “We say Make in India, Congress says cancel; we say Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Congress says cancel; we say Vocal For Local, Congress says cancel; we say Vande Bharat train, Congress says cancel; we say new Parliament building, Congress says cancel. I am surprised because these are not Modi’s achievements, these are the achievements of the country.”