"Blessings of 140 Cr Indians is 'Suraksha Kavach'," PM Modi reacts to opposition's allegations on Adani issue

New Delhi, Feb 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Feb 8) countered the opposition barbs at his government over Hindenberg-Adani row with a strong attack on Congress over UPA rule, saying the decade before 2014 will be known as a lost decade. He also said that "blessings of 140 crore Indians" is his 'Suraksha Kavach'.

Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President's address, PM Modi talked about the work done by his government, saying there is positivity and hope towards India at a global level and the reforms were not carried out of compulsion but by conviction. He said India is the mother of democracy, constructive criticism is vital for a strong democracy and criticism is like a 'shuddhi yagya'. He also said Indian society has the capability to deal with negativity but it never accepts this negativity.

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PM Modi said the government has addressed the aspirations of the middle class and has honoured them for their honesty." He recounted the Ekta Yatra which was carried out by the BJP in 1991 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir led by the then party president Murli Manohar Joshi. PM Modi said that he unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk without bulletproof jacket. The Prime Minister took veiled digs at Rahul Gandhi who had made sharp attack on the government over the Adani issue in his speech during the debate on Tuesday (Feb 7) and said some speeches made on Tuesday (Feb 7) were lauded by the their ecosystem.

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"I was watching yesterday. After the speeches of a few people, some people were happily saying, "Ye hui na baat." Maybe they slept well & couldn't wake up (on time). For them it has been said, "Ye keh keh ke hum dil ko behla rahe hain,wo ab chal chuke hain, wo ab aa rahe hain"," PM Modi said. Rahul Gandhi was not present in the House when Prime Minister made his initial remarks. He later reached Lok Sabha. The opposition parties kept up their demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenberg-Adani row and some MPs staged a walkout during Prime Minister's reply. Targeting the opposition, PM Modi said instead of constructive criticism, some people indulge in compulsive criticism.