Modi links caste, dynasty in attack on Oppn, Rahul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over issues of dynasty politics, welfare of marginalised castes, poverty alleviation and foreign policy as he characterised the Opposition as people with no ground connect and underlined that his government respected the Constitution and imbibed democratic spirit.

- Dhrubo Jyoti

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Modi outlined his vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India), contrasted the record of welfare delivery of his government with that of previous administrations, and listed the ways in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was building the foundation for national progress in the 21st century. He also said that his government worked for santushtikaran (satisfaction) and not tushtikaran (appeasement), and said that while he was currently serving his third term, he'll continue to work for many more years.

In his reply to the motion of thanks to President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint session of Parliament, Modi posed key questions to Gandhi, who had repeatedly attacked the government over its treatment of marginalised castes.

"I want to pose an important question to the citizens through this House have there ever been three MPs simultaneously from the same family from the SC community? I also ask - have there ever been three MPs simultaneously from the same family belonging to the ST community?" he asked, in a reference to the Gandhi family-Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister,

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in the Lok Sabha, and their mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in the Rajya Sabha.

"The difference between their words and actions are like day and night...look at us, we have strengthened the SC/ST community without triggering any social tensions," Modi said.