Prime Minister Narendra Modi, replying to the Motion of Thanks in the Rajya Sabha, delivered his address marked by sharp political attacks, strong defence of his government’s economic record, and repeated emphasis on India’s growing global stature.
He accused the Opposition of lowering the level of debate, said much of his government’s time is spent correcting past mistakes, and projected the current decade as decisive for building “Viksit Bharat”.
Alongside jibes and sarcasm, the Prime Minister highlighted falling non-performing assets (NPAs), profitable public sector undertakings (PSUs), expanding welfare schemes, and what he called a new world order “bent towards India”. Trade agreements, global trust, and India’s leadership role in the Global South formed the core of his foreign policy pitch, while the Congress and regional parties faced sustained criticism over governance failures and alleged vote-bank politics.
On budget, economy, and governance
Setting the tone, the Prime Minister said governance today is guided by policy and strategy, not ad hoc decisions.
“Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ we have moved forward, and the reality today is that the nation has boarded the Reform Express.”
He claimed banking sector health has been restored.
“The ‘mountain’ of non-performing assets has been reduced to the lowest level of less than 1 per cent.”
On PSUs, he said the old narrative of losses has collapsed.
“Public sector undertakings, once portrayed as loss-making, are today posting record profits.”
Linking development to the future, he added:
“The first quarter of the 21st century has completed. But this second quarter is decisive… in the direction of building Viksit Bharat.”
On trade deals, India's global standing
Projecting India as a trusted partner, PM Modi said:
“Big countries are very eager to have trade relations with India… The entire world is openly praising these trade deals.”
Referring to agreements with the European Union and the United States, he noted:
“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 with stability, they can sense a speed too.”
He also said:
“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.”
And added:
“Today, India is a trusted partner of several nations… India has emerged as a strong voice of Global South on global platforms.”
On Opposition conduct and parliamentary disruptions
Expressing disappointment over sloganeering, the Prime Minister said:
“I heard the discussion, I felt that the level of discussion should have been a little higher, especially from that side.”
Taking a swipe at Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, he remarked:
“Looking at the age of Kharge ji, I urge you, the Chairman, to let him sit and sloganeer so that he faces no discomfort.”
“Colleagues from TMC said a lot of things. But they should look within themselves… Future of the people there is plunging into darkness but they do not care.”
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).”
On Congress
Targeting Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said:
“Yesterday, a member of this Parliament was called a traitor… He did not call anyone else who has left the Congress a traitor. But he called the MP a traitor, because he is a Sikh.”
Calling it deeply offensive, he added:
“This was an insult to the Sikhs, an insult to the Gurus… How can the country tolerate a citizen being called a traitor?”
He also accused the Congress of lacking vision.
“Congress has no ideas, no vision, no plan. Our efforts are going into cleaning up their mess.”
“A significant part of our energy is being spent on correcting the mistakes of the past… Global trust in India is growing. The country is going ahead in the right direction at a fast pace.”
PM 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.
On farmers welfare
Citing the PM-Kisan scheme, he said:
“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.”
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