Elamaram Kareem, CPI (M) MP from Kerala, says that there is no mention of the 60-crore workforce of India in the Bill. Only with Ayodhya, they cannot overcome the next election, he says. 

AITC MP Jawhar Sircar asks the government what is the GDP growth now. We get the impression that it is at its highest level, but this is not a fact, he says. The growth during UPA’s tenure has been over 8.1%, while the growth under this government has been 5.5%, he says. This year it has reached 7.3%, but it does not destroy the averages, he adds, saying that we need to be clear about statistics instead of misleading the people. 

He says that there is a feeling as if everything began from 2014, and before then was an era of complete darkness, and counters it saying that as mature people we cannot repeat these sentiments. We have to get out of this ‘before Modi and after Modi’ mindset, he says. 

He highlights that right now the total domestic debt of India stands at Rs. 164 lakh crores.

He also asserts that several States are being affected by what he calls ‘fiscal terrorism,’ including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He says that there are cuts in all domains, and the money is going towards capital expenditure, to the capitalist class which is contributing only 10% to the GDP. 

INC MP Imran Pratapgarhi says that instead of providing houses over people’s heads, the centre is bulldozing homes as well as democracy. 

How is it ‘s abka saath. sabka vikas,’ when you have taken away the Maulana Azad fellowship, taken away from the Minority Affairs department, he asks. 

He highlights that the Finance Minister mentioned that some trains are being converted to Vande Bharat trains, but questions why nothing is being said about railway security, mentioning the Balasore accident. He also says that the condition of stations and railway coaches is poor. 

You make films tax-free but don’t waive examination for students, he says. Prime Minister Modi speaks about the ‘new’ middle class, but how do you treat the current middle class, he asks? 

He says that the youth is angry, and no provisions have been made for them in the interim budget. 

There is no place for foodgrains for the poor in this Amrit Kaal budget, he says, asserting that it will be the last budget of this government. 

PM Narendra Modi replies to Motion of Thanks to President’s address in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, February 5, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, targetting the Opposition for condemning his government’s schemes. Asserting that BJP will win 370 seats on its own in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections he attacked the Opposition on issues like nepotism, corruption, inflation and casteism. Listing his two terms’ achievements, he also envisioned a pathway to make India the 3rd largest economy in his third term.

Earlier in the day, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill was introduced in the Lok sabha and the Finance Minister presented the interim Budget for Jammu and Kashmir, following which the House resumed discussion on the President’s address. 

Rajya Sabha took up Question Hour and continued its discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav introduced the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 Bill to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also introduced statements pertaining to the supplementary demand for grants for 2023-24, for both the centre and the State of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the interim budge for J&K for 2024-25. 

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