Poor our focus, says PM, slams Oppn as family, Sheesh Mahal

Attacking the AAP and Congress on the eve of voting in Delhi by referring to Arvind Kejriwal's "Sheesh Mahal" and "jacuzzi", Sonia Gandhi's "poor thing" remark about the President and Rahul Gandhi "fighting the Indian State", Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said his government had chosen the path of "santushtikaran" (satisfaction) over "tushtikaran" (appeasement) and "100 per cent saturation" of welfare schemes was "real social justice, secularism and respect for the Constitution".

- Vikas Pathak, Manoj CG & Deeptiman Tiwary

Replying to the discussion in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, Modi listed his government's schemes to benefit different sections, especially the poor and the marginalised. "In the last 10 years, 25 crore people came out of poverty. For five decades, we heard slogans of Garibi Hatao, but now 25 crore poor people have defeated poverty," he said, adding, "We have not given false slogans but true development to the poor."

He said 4 crore houses and 12 crore toilets have been built by his government for the poor, and that tap water had been taken to 12 crore families. Targeting the Opposition, he said, "Those who went to huts of villagers for photo sessions for entertainment will find this talk in Parliament about the poor meaningless. I can understand their anger."