Parliament Budget Session: PM Modi concludes Rajya Sabha speech, takes dig at Gandhis, says they stole ‘Gandhi’ surname

Rajya Sabha concluded its proceedings for the day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his speech in reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. Lawmakers will resume discussions in the next sitting of the house.

In the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the tragic impact of brain fever (encephalitis) on children in Uttar Pradesh, noting that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had once broken down in the Assembly over the deaths. He said, “the previous government had failed to act,” and highlighted how his government stepped in to provide relief to affected families. PM Modi also pointed to interventions against Trachoma, an eye disease, calling these efforts key successes that are now being criticised by opponents.

In the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a defiant message to the opposition, saying, “You may raise any number of slogans, but you will never be able to dig my grave (tum kabr nahi khod paoge).”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress in the Rajya Sabha over a “traitor” remark made against a BJP MP, saying it was an insult to the Sikh community and the Sikh Gurus.

Referring to the “Yuvraj of the Congress” with a “shaatir dimag”, PM Modi said the MP was deliberately singled out and branded a traitor because he is a Sikh, while others who left the Congress were not treated in the same manner.

The Prime Minister said the MP belongs to a family that has made sacrifices for the nation and asserted that merely changing one’s political ideology cannot make a person a traitor.

Calling the remark highly unfortunate, PM Modi said such arrogance reflects deep-rooted hatred within the Congress and warned that this mindset would ultimately lead to the party’s downfall.

PM Modi said, “The Congress party has always considered the citizens of this country as a problem. Once, Indira Gandhi visited Iran and, during a speech, quoted a conversation with her father, Nehru ji. I am quoting what she said, ‘When someone asked my father how many problems he has, he answered 35 crore.’ At that time, the country’s population was 35 crore.”

"Before 2014, there was a prevalent phone banking culture in which politicians would make calls to influence the disbursement of loans. As a result, loans were often granted based on these calls rather than proper assessment. The poor were frequently denied access to credit, and nearly 50% of the population did not even have bank accounts. On the recommendation of Congress politicians, millions were lent to individuals who never repaid the money. During the UPA era, this led the banking system to teeter on the brink of collapse," PM Modi said.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Disrespecting the people of the country seems to be ingrained in the Congress party’s behaviour and culture. In recent days, the Congress has insulted the President. The language used for our President after the elections is shameful and disturbing. One wonders what kind of people say such things about the President of India...Even yesterday in the Lok Sabha, a discussion on the President’s Address could not take place. This amounts to an insult to the office of the President. Those who behave in this manner have no moral right to speak the word ‘Constitution.’ When a woman who has risen from poverty, who comes from a tribal family, is treated in the way she was in the Lok Sabha, it is not just an insult to her. It is an insult to the tribal community, an insult to women, an insult to the Constitution, and an insult to the highest constitutional office of this country.”

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was compelled to speak about Assam due to the opposition’s failures, and not because of elections. Targeting the Congress, he said the party focused more on imagination than implementation. Citing the Bogibeel Bridge project, the Prime Minister said it remained stalled for years but was reviewed and completed under his government, turning it into a major facility not only for Assam but for the entire Northeast.

The PM Modi termed the incident in the Lok Sabha as extremely painful, alleging that it amounted to a grave insult to the President of India and her office. The PM said the Congress had insulted the post of the President, tribals, and the Constitution, calling the episode an affront to the dignity of Parliament and the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi quoted former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in the Rajya Sabha to target the Congress, saying they viewed Indians as problems rather than participants in development.

Referring to a statement by Indira Gandhi, PM Modi said she had herself highlighted flaws in the Planning Commission. Quoting her remarks from a speech in Himachal Pradesh, he recalled that she had said workers needed mules instead of jeeps but were told funds were available only for vehicles due to policy restrictions.

PM Modi said that despite acknowledging the issue, no steps were taken to reform the system. He added that the Planning Commission she criticised had been set up by her own father, Jawaharlal Nehru.

‘Congress betrayed farmers’: PM Modi cites PM Kisan Yojana in Rajya Sabha

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, “This Congress party has also betrayed farmers. Our country has around 10 crore farmers who own less than two hectares of land. Congress never cared for them, but we felt their pain; therefore, we introduced the PM Kisan Yojana.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his government has reduced the “mountain” of non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks to the lowest level of less than 1 per cent. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister alleged that the opposition earlier misled people on public sector undertakings (PSUs), comparing their narrative to that of “urban Naxals”. He said PSUs, once portrayed as loss-making entities, are today posting record profits, reflecting a major turnaround under the current policy framework.

In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, "...Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India. Be it the trade deal of the European Union or the recent deal with the US...The entire world is openly praising these trade deals. When we signed the trade deal with the EU, the world became more confident about the greater likelihood of global stability. After the trade deal with the US, the world became even more confident that the with stability, they can sense a speed too. This is a positive sign for the world."

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, “TMC leaders spoke on many issues, but they should also look at their own shortcomings. People there (in West Bengal) are suffering because of this government. They are trying to protect infiltrators by approaching the courts. They only care about power.”

PM Modi said he was grateful to the people for giving him the opportunity to serve, adding that much of the government’s energy is being spent on correcting past mistakes and rebuilding India’s global image. He said the focus is now on future-ready policies, governance based on strategy, and the mantra of “reform, perform, transform,” which has strengthened global trust in India.

Earlier, when a deal was discussed, people would immediately refer to Bofors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Rajya Sabha, taking a swipe at his party’s national rival, the Congress.

Addressing the Budget Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Opposition, saying, “tum kitna duniya ko dhoka doge, aina dekh lia toh apni sachai kha chipaoge.”

PM Modi says new world order leaning towards India, cites nine major trade deals

In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, "...India is signging future-ready trade deals with several countries. In the past few days, we signed trade deals with 9 big and important countries of the world. Mother of all deals with 27 countries, with European Union is one of them..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Congress while addressing the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks debate. “Congress has no ideas, no vision, no plan. Our efforts are going into cleaning up their mess,” PM Modi said. He accused the Opposition party of leaving behind governance challenges that his government has been working to resolve.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India, once labelled among the “Fragile Five” economies, is now moving rapidly towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said India has emerged as a ray of hope for the world by offering solutions to global challenges. He noted that India’s growth rate remains among the highest globally, even as inflation stays under control.

PM Modi said the combination of high growth and low inflation is rare and reflects the strength of the country’s economic fundamentals. He added that India’s performance among major economies marks a significant moment in its development journey.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is pursuing future-ready trade agreements as part of its long-term economic strategy, pointing to ongoing negotiations with the European Union and the much-awaited India-US trade deal.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi described the proposed EU agreement as the “mother of all trade deals,” highlighting its significance for India’s global economic engagement.

The Prime Minister also spoke about shifting global dynamics, saying, “There was a new world order after the Second World War, and now the world is moving towards a new world order and the bent is towards India, which is a vishwa bandhu.”

PM Modi said India’s growing economic influence and partnerships position the country strongly in the evolving global order, underlining its role as a trusted partner on the world stage.

PM Modi in Rajya Sabha: ‘Second quarter of 21st century will be decisive for Viksit Bharat’

In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, "The first quarter of the 21st century has completed. But this second quarter is decisive just like the second quarter of India's freedom struggle in the last century was. I can clearly see that in the direction of building Viksit Bharat, this second quarter is going to be equally capable."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was the world’s sixth-largest economy at the time of Independence but fell to the 11th position by 2014. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, he attributed the decline to the policies followed by previous governments. PM Modi said his government has focused on reversing this trend through economic reforms and long-term planning. He added that India is now moving steadily towards regaining its global economic standing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is progressing rapidly on the path of “Viksit Bharat,” asserting that the past few years have marked an era of accelerated development across sectors.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks debate on the President’s address, PM Modi said the country has witnessed transformative change in all walks of life and is moving in the right direction at a fast pace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a swipe at Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, during his speech in the Upper House amid continued sloganeering by Opposition members.

Referring to Kharge, PM Modi remarked, “Given his age, he can sit and shout slogans,” as protests continued during the Motion of Thanks debate on the President’s address.

Opposition MPs raised slogans such as “Tanaashahi nahi chalegi”, “LoP ko bolne do” and “Can’t crush opposition voice” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

The sloganeering began soon after the Prime Minister started speaking, leading to repeated appeals for order from the Chair. Opposition members alleged that their voices were being suppressed and demanded that the Leader of the Opposition be allowed to speak.

Despite the protests, Prime Minister Modi continued with his address as Treasury bench MPs countered the sloganeering. The House witnessed sustained disruption for several minutes before proceedings moved ahead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday began his speech in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address amid sloganeering and protests by Opposition members. Despite the disruptions, the Prime Minister proceeded with his address as the Chair appealed for order in the House.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in Rajya Sabha at around 5 pm.

Earlier today, the Lok Sabha passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address without the customary speech by the Prime Minister, amid vociferous protests by the opposition.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday told the House that the Prime Minister was advised not to attend proceedings amid concerns over disruption, saying he had inputs that some Congress MPs were planning to do “something unprecedented.”

Birla said the situation amounted to the “dignity of the House being shredded,” and strongly objected to slogans and conduct that, according to him, crossed parliamentary norms.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on informed the House about inputs suggesting an alleged plot to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering sharp reactions across party lines.

Birla strongly condemned slogans calling for a “PM gherao,” saying such remarks undermine democratic institutions and the dignity of Parliament. He urged members to maintain decorum and refrain from statements that could incite violence or threaten constitutional authorities.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the Leader of the Opposition should be allowed to speak in Parliament, arguing that objections raised against his remarks were unnecessary and counterproductive.

Commenting on the issue, Tharoor said, “The LoP should be allowed to speak, and what is more, is that what he is quoting is already in the public domain. All he wanted to do was make his point. By raising such a big objection and not allowing him to speak, a much larger problem has been created.”

His remarks come amid ongoing tensions in Parliament over the conduct of proceedings and repeated disruptions during key debates.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday criticised Union Minister J P Nadda for using the term ‘abodh’ in reference to Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and questioned the government’s conduct in Parliament.

Reacting to the remark, Priyanka Gandhi said, “He should be allowed to speak. Is this a way to talk about anyone? What are they scared of? That he will quote from a book? Or are they scared ofthe Epstein files? Or that we will question them on this deal ( US-India trade agreement)?”

Her comments come amid continuing confrontations between the government and the Opposition over parliamentary proceedings and the conduct of debates in both Houses.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday criticised the Opposition for its conduct in Parliament, accusing some leaders of pursuing divisive politics to stay in the headlines, while asserting that the PM Modi-led NDA was focused on inclusive governance.

Speaking in Delhi, Paswan said, “There are some leaders who want to remain in the headlines through their statements and follow divisive politics. At the same time, PM Modi-led NDA alliance is following 'Sabka saath,sabka vikas...The way the Opposition is functioning, with MPs standing on the chair of the secretary general and throwing papers at the Chair...In the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, the PM spoke about dignified conduct in Parliament...It is sad that due to the arrogance and stubbornness of the LoP, the whole Opposition is getting washed out.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday questioned the functioning of Parliament, saying the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was not allowed to speak despite wanting to raise issues of national interest.

Speaking in the Upper House, Kharge said, “Parliament means Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The LoP, Lok Sabha, wanted to speak on the country's interests, but was not allowed to speak. How can you run the House like this?”

Responding to Kharge, Union Minister J P Nadda said that the rules of Parliament do not permit discussion of Lok Sabha proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. “The LoP should know that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha,” Nadda said.

The exchange reflected continued tensions between the government and the Opposition over parliamentary procedure and the conduct of proceedings in both Houses.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday criticised Opposition MPs for disrupting the functioning of the Rajya Sabha, saying such actions were against the rules and traditions of the House.

Rijiju said that matters related to the Lok Sabha cannot be discussed in the Rajya Sabha and urged Opposition members to adhere to established parliamentary procedures. He asked them to allow the House to function smoothly and respect its conventions.

“All the members of the house are waiting to listen to the speech of the Prime Minister. If the Congress Members don’t want to listen to his speech, it is their choice. But, they cannot stop the others from listening to him,” Mr. Rijiju said.

The Union minister also said that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, does not follow the rules of the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Wednesday convened the House by condoling the death of former Member of Parliament Thomas Kuthiravattam.

At the start of the proceedings, the Chairman requested members of the Rajya Sabha to rise from their seats as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Thomas Kuthiravattam was a former MP from Kerala.

Opposition parties are set to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after the ruling party objected to statements made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.

The move comes a day after members of the ruling party questioned and objected to Gandhi’s remarks during proceedings in the Lower House, triggering sharp exchanges.

Opposition leaders are expected to take up the matter in the Upper House, arguing that the objections raised in the Lok Sabha undermine the rights and role of the Leader of the Opposition during parliamentary debates.

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, seeking a discussion on the proposed India-US trade deal.

By moving the motion, Tewari urged the House to suspend other business and take up an immediate debate on the issue, underlining the need for parliamentary scrutiny of the trade agreement.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said the Prime Minister should speak in the House only after the Leader of the Opposition has addressed it, underlining parliamentary convention during debates.

Speaking on the issue, Ramesh said, “In the House, the debate begins with the Leader of Opposition speaking, and the Prime Minister responds. Therefore, until the Leader of Opposition speaks, there is no meaning in the Prime Minister speaking.”

Opposition leaders on Wednesday held a meeting at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s office in Parliament to chalk out their floor strategy, as the government prepares to reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

The meeting brought together senior leaders from several opposition parties, reflecting coordination within the bloc ahead of the crucial parliamentary discussion. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was present, along with Trinamool Congress MP Shatabdi Roy, DMK leader TR Baalu and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule, among others.