“It has been the practice since the British rule to use ‘India’ as a camouflage for vested interests. East India Companylooted the country but the British tried to make it appear that it stood for the welfare of Indians by putting ‘India’ in its name.
Similarly, after the revolt of 1857, the British got their compatriot A O Hume to create a safety mechanism by launching a political party and that outfit was promptly named Indian National Congress in 1985,” the PM is learnt to have said at the closed-door meeting of BJP MPs.
“Even terrorist outfits like Indian Mujahideen and Popular Front of India have used ‘India’,” sources quoted the PM as having said.
02:09
PM Modi attacks I.N.D.I.A parties: East India Company, Indian Mujahideen, PFI, and more under fire
“The ‘INDIA’ gimmick is a similar exercise to play with people’s emotions. It is also reflective of the opposition parties’ desperation as they have realised that the NDA is poised for a landslide in 2024. India is seen even by the global community with hope which is testament in itself about BJP and the NDA being strongly placed,” BJP MPs quoted a “supremely confident” PM telling his audience.
Let opposition bring no-confidence motion, it’ll be of no use: PM Modi
Slamming the opposition’s anti-BJP front, PM Narendra Modi said the proposed no-confidence motion was of no use. “During our first term also, opposition brought a no-confidence motion against us and in 2019 our seats increased from 282 to 303. Let them bring a no-confidence motion this time also and we will win more than 350 seats,” parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi quoted the PM as telling BJP MPs.
“India is seen even by the global community with hope which is testament in itself about BJP and NDA being strongly placed,” BJP MPs quoted a “confident” PM telling his audience.
07:49
We insist PM Modi to come to the Parliament and speak on Manipur issue: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
It was Modi’s first direct attack on the opposition for choosing ‘INDIA’ as the name for their anti-BJP platform. It came amid a standoff with the opposition over the violence in Manipur and the PM lashed out at the opponents for blocking the two Houses despite the government offering to have a threadbare discussion on the situation in the northeastern state.
“I have never seen such a directionless opposition and it seems that they have made up their mind to stay in the opposition for a long time. That is their destiny. We have one year to go before the completion of this term, so we must start afresh as we prepare for the next election,” the PM told party MPs in the first parliamentary party meeting of BJP during the monsoon session of Parliament.
03:46
Opposition’s voices are being suppressed, alleges TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha
Joshi told reporters that Modi likened the current atmosphere in India to a “new dawn”, pointing out the mood of optimism and hope about the country globally.
Asserting that the Indian economy has grown to be the fifth largest from 10th under his government and will be the third biggest in its third term, the PM asked party MPs to work with resolve and determination to help develop the country.
In his address, Modi also referred to the recent meeting of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The alliance was the legacy of BJP stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani, he said, emphasising on maintaining strong and cordial ties with allies.
02:01
‘Government is ready to discuss Manipur issue,’ HM Amit Shah tells opposition in Lok Sabha
He also asked party leaders to organise several programmes, including ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’, on Independence Day across the country.
There is also a plan to make an ‘Amrit Van’ (Amrit forest) by bringing plants from blocks across the country, party leaders said.
After the meeting, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, “We are proud of our PM. We are coming back to power in 2024. PM Modi has given a statement that Indian National Congress, East India Company was founded by a foreign national. Today, people are using names like Indian Mujahideen and Indian People’s Front. Something on face value could be different from something that is really true.”
